Russia's Threat to Annex Georgia's Breakaway Regions Raises Concerns

Russia's Deputy Chair of the Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, has warned that Moscow could annex Georgia's breakaway regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, if there are "good reasons" for it. Medvedev accused NATO of escalating tensions by discussing Georgia's potential membership to the alliance. Russia unilaterally recognized the independence of the two regions after a brief war with Georgia in 2008. Georgia has expressed interest in joining NATO and the EU, but progress on its accession has stalled. Medvedev sees Georgia joining NATO as a threat to Russia's security.