By KUNA,
Moscow : The Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian Parliament (the Duma), backed here on Monday a bill recognizing independence of the republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The Russian MPs voted with a majority in favor of recognizing the independence of the two republics.
The parliaments of Abkhazia and South Ossetia sent Appeals, last week, to Russia’s president and parliament to recognize their independence.
The two republics declared unilateral separation from Georgia in the early 90s.
Georgian forces launched, on August 8, a large-scale attack against South Ossetia, in a bid to bring it back under its sovereignty, but the Russia forces interfered and attacked the Georgians driving them back. The events later led to international recognition of the independence of the two republics.
South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity described Russia’s parliamentary recognition of his country’s independence as a historic event.
He added in a speech delivered here on Monday at the Russian Duma that recognizing the independence of the two republics will contribute in stability and peace in the Caucasus region.
The Duma will refer the endorsed bill to the president.