The presidium of the Russian government will on Thursday consider ratifying the agreements that stipulate mutual visa-free travels between Russia and Abkhazia and between Russia and South Ossetia.
The agreements with the former Georgian republics were signed in 2009 and 2010 correspondingly. They are designed to promote mutual trips and bolster confidence, strengthening the legal base of cooperation.
Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which both split from Georgia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, two weeks after the five-day war with Georgia in August 2008 that broke out after Tbilisi attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control.
The move was heavily criticized by Western powers. Since then, only Venezuela, Nicaragua and the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru have followed Russia's lead.
MOSCOW, January 13 (RIA Novosti)
