Today, Abkhazia and South Ossetia celebrate the Day of Russia's Recognition of Their Independence. Sixteen years ago, as a result of the war, they lost their status as territories of Georgia and declared themselves republics.

On August 26, 2008, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed decrees recognizing the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, taking into account the "free expression of the will of the Ossetian and Abkhaz peoples," the UN Charter and "other fundamental international documents."

Georgia and the country's international partners consider Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be territories occupied by the Russian Federation. Their independence is recognized only by Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Syria and Nauru. The Georgian authorities advocate a peaceful resolution of the territorial dispute and proclaim a policy of rapprochement with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which will ultimately voluntarily decide to rejoin Georgia given the lack of prospects for their future in their current status.