MOSCOW, August 25 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Georgia's attack on the breakaway republic of South Ossetia inflicted material damages of more than $1 billion.
After listening to a report on the situation in the province delivered by Regional Development Minister Dmitry Kozak, Putin said the figure "is the tentative cost of the damage caused by the act of aggression."
Both houses of Russia's parliament voted unanimously on Monday on a resolution calling on Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to recognize the sovereignty of South Ossetia, along with Georgia's other rebel region, Abkhazia.
Georgia launched a major offensive to seize control of South Ossetia on August 8, prompting Russia to send several hundred tanks and thousands of troops into the region. As a result of Georgia's attack, around 70% of buildings in South Ossetia's capital, Tskhinvali, were destroyed, and gas and electricity supplies were cut off. Georgia had largely shut down the region's water supply before the conflict.
The Russian premier issued an order Monday for 1.5 billion rubles ($65.5 million) in government funds to be immediately provided for urgent repair works in the devastated region. A special commission will be set up to boost the republic's social and economic development.
South Ossetian officials have quoted a much higher estimate of $4.1 billion for damages inflicted by the Georgian military offensive, saying local industry has been devastated.
"Today it is senseless to speak of the republic having its own industries," the South Ossetian parliament's deputy speaker, Tarzan Kokoity, said.
The Russian premier earlier said Russia was ready to provide around 10 billion rubles ($410 million) for South Ossetia, but that the figure could later be increased.
