World
Georgia parliament votes to sever ties with Russia
Topic: Russia backs sovereignty for Abkhazia, S.Ossetia
"Georgian parliament is instructing the government to sever diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation," the resolution said.
The legislature also declared Russian troops "occupiers" for staying in Georgia after a brief military conflict earlier this month triggered by Tbilisi's offensive to seize breakaway South Ossetia.
"Parliament declares the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia occupied by Russia," lawmakers said.
The resolution also orders the government to annul all agreements allowing the presence of Russia's military units in Georgia.
The parliament has also urged the prosecutors to investigate "ethnic cleansing by Russia on the occupied territory of Georgia."
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed decrees Tuesday recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states, saying recognition was necessary to protect the republics from Georgian acts of aggression.
The move was condemned by Western powers, which have threatened Russia with political isolation.
At Georgia's urging, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency session on the situation in the region at 3 pm local time (19:00 GMT) on Thursday.

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