"Medvedev: Russia's Potential Annexation of Georgian Breakaway Regions"

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia's security council, stated that Russia may annex Georgia's breakaway regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, if there are good reasons for it. Medvedev accused the West of creating tensions by discussing Georgia's possible admission to NATO. Georgian officials have expressed their commitment to joining the U.S.-led military alliance to preserve the country's territorial integrity. Russia declared the annexation of four provinces in Ukraine last year, but they are not recognized internationally.