Abkhazia’s parliament today sent an official appeal to the Russian president and Russian parliament asking for recognition as an independent state, the ITAR-TASS news agency reports.

The Abkhaz parliament’s document said Abkhazia has all the necessary attributes for sovereignty.

Abkhazia is officially part of Georgia and the Georgian government has repeatedly stated it will not allow any parts of the country to secede.
Abkhazia is a Black Sea province that has had de facto independence since 1993, when two years of fighting with Georgian troops ended. Russian troops have been deployed there and it is one of two Georgian regions seeking independence or union with Russia.

According to the Associated Press news agency, the United Nations has maintained there an observer mission since 1993 to monitor the cease-fire between Georgia and Abkhazia. It now has about 400 people.

Tension between Tbilisi and Moscow has heightened sharply since Georgia arrested Russia officers on espionage charges last month. Despite their swift release, Russia retaliated with sanctions against its small, southern neighbor, including a transport blockade.

Georgia accuses Russia of backing the separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in a bid to maintain its influence and undermine the government of President Mikhail Saakashvili, who has pledged to rein in the breakaway regions.

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