Vladimir Putin’s ‘strategic alliance’ with Georgia rebel in row

Moscow: Russia cemented control over neighbouring Georgia’s rebel Abkhazia region Monday with a “strategic partnership” deal that the Georgian government said amounts to annexation. Russian President, Vladimir Putin, signed the “alliance and strategic partnership” agreement which formalises Russian dominance of the tiny separatist region’s foreign policy, armed forces and economy, as well as placing Russian guards on the border with the rest of Georgia. The Georgian government condemned the move as illegal.

The signature “is a step towards a de facto annexation of the Abkhazia region by the Russian Federation” and a “violation of the principles of Georgia’s territorial integrity and international law,” Georgian Foreign Minister Tamar Beruchashvili said.

More than 30,000 opposition supporters protested in Tbilisi against the planned deal, which comes amid a diplomatic firestorm over Russia's involvement in a separatist uprising in eastern Ukraine and annexation of Crimea last March.