VLADIKAVKAZ, August 8 (RIA Novosti) - President Dmitry Medvedev said on Saturday that Russia would not revise its decision to recognize the former Georgian republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.
"I stress this decision will not be reviewed," Medvedev said in the southern Russian city of Vladikavkaz, during an award ceremony for service personnel, who fought in the five-day war that started a year ago.
Some 162 civilians and 67 Russian service personnel, including peacekeepers, were killed when Georgia attacked the former Georgian republic of South Ossetia last August. Russia reacted swiftly expelling Georgian troops from the region and subsequently recognized both South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another former Georgian republic.
The president said that the decision to recognize the former republics had been the only option following Georgia's attack on South Ossetia last August.
"This was the only way we could guarantee people's security and stability in the Caucasus region," he said.
