Duma May Call for Russian Missions in Sokhumi, Tskhinvali

A draft statement of the Russian lower house of Parliament, the State Duma, stops short of recognizing breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but calls on the Russian executive authorities to consider establishing diplomatic missions in Sokhumi and Tskhinvali.

The statement, which consists of non-binding recommendations to the executive, was discussed by the Duma on March 13, Russian news agencies reported. Further discussion is scheduled with the draft expected to be adopted on March 17.

The draft recommends “changing the format of relations” with the unrecognized republics.

Although not mentioned in the draft statement, some MPs argued in favor of recognising the independence of the breakaway regions, according to Russian news agencies.

The hearings, held behind closed doors, were attended by delegations from breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Speaker of the Abkhaz Parliament Nugzar Ashuba told the Russian lawmakers that Russia had “enough justification” to recognise the separatist regimes following Kosovo’s recent recogntion by most western countries.

Grigory Karasin, the Russian deputy foreign minister, who attended the hearings, said the Duma’s recommendations would have “weight,” Itar-Tass news agency reported.

The draft statement also calls on the Russian authorities to maintain the current peacekeeping and negotiating formats applying to both conflict zones.