Russia to recognize Abkhazia?

A senior EU official has told reporters that Russia may be preparing to recognize Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia: There is a growing preoccupation and anxiety that Russia may be paving the way for recognition of Abkhazia," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said while reaffirming EU support for Georgia’s borders. "Georgia’s territorial integrity ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.

A senior EU official has told reporters that Russia may be preparing to recognize Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia:

A senior EU official has told reporters that Russia may be preparing to recognize Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia:

There is a growing preoccupation and anxiety that Russia may be paving the way for recognition of Abkhazia," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said while reaffirming EU support for Georgia’s borders.

"Georgia’s territorial integrity has always been clearly supported by the EU… this is absolutely clear," she told a news conference before EU foreign ministers were due to discuss Georgia at their monthly meeting in Brussels.

"We will be discussing Georgia and… what can we do in order to support more strongly Georgia in a difficult situation."

Russia took a first step toward recognition last week when it lifted trade restrictions with the territory. It’s hard to see this as anything but cynical "Kosovo payback" against Georgia’s allies — the United States and the EU — that can only further destabalize an already volatile region. But since Abkhazia has been de facto independent since the early ’90s and meets most of international law’s minimum criteria for sovereignty, it will be interesting to see how Brussels and Washington will make the case that it is less deserving of statehood than Kosovo. We may be witnessing a return to the politically motivated recognition battles of the Cold War era.

The Russians may also be playing with fire by stirring up latent nationalism in the Caucasus — a policy that they may come to regret down the road.

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

More from Foreign Policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.

Can Russia Get Used to Being China’s Little Brother?

The power dynamic between Beijing and Moscow has switched dramatically.

Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.
Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.

Xi and Putin Have the Most Consequential Undeclared Alliance in the World

It’s become more important than Washington’s official alliances today.

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

It’s a New Great Game. Again.

Across Central Asia, Russia’s brand is tainted by Ukraine, China’s got challenges, and Washington senses another opening.

Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.
Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.

Iraqi Kurdistan’s House of Cards Is Collapsing

The region once seemed a bright spot in the disorder unleashed by U.S. regime change. Today, things look bleak.