RESOLUTION OF THE STATE DUMA OF THE FEDERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION On appeal of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to D. A. Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation, regarding the necessity to recognize the Republic of South Ossetia and Republic of Abkhazia

The State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation resolves:

1. To adopt the address of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to D. A. Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation, regarding the necessity to recognize the Republic of South Ossetia and Republic of Abkhazia.

2. To submit the Resolution and the Address to D. A .Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation.

3. To send the Resolution and the Address to “Parliament Newspaper” for official publication.

4. The resolution enters into force on the day of adoption.

B. V. Gryzlov, Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

Moscow, August 25, 2008.

APPEAL OF THE STATE DUMA OF THE FEDERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION TO D. A. MEDVEDEV, PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, REGARDING THE NECESSITY TO RECOGNIZE THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH OSSETIA AND REPUBLIC OF ABKHAZIA

Dear Dmitry Anatolievich!

The State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation would like to express its unanimous support to the adequate and decisive actions of the Russian government, that have allowed protecting South Ossetia from the armed attack of Georgia.

Members of the State Duma acknowledge the feat of the Russian military, who have stopped the aggression and genocide and protected the population of South Ossetia, including citizens of the Russian Federation.

Being the sole protector of the civilian population in this dramatic situation, Russia was compelled to urgently suppress the aggressor, which sought to wipe children, women, elderly people, the entire population of South Ossetia off the face of the earth together with towns and villages.

Hundreds of civilians and Russian peacekeepers have been killed, dozens of thousands have been deprived of their homes and livelihoods as a result of the treacherous armed attack perpetrated by Saakashvili’s criminal regime. The multitudes of refugees and massive destruction of the infrastructure of South Ossetia led the region to humanitarian catastrophe.

Members of the State Duma deplore the loss of life and suffering caused by these tragic events. Parents of children massacred by Georgian soldiers will never forgive or forget the monstrous acts committed by Saakashvili’s order.

In its statement of March 21, 2008, the State Duma pointed out the need for taking drastic measures for the protection of citizens of the Russian Federation residing in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in case of possible armed attack of Georgia against Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Regrettably, the fears voiced by the members of the State Duma have come true. Only the timely interference and adequate response of the Russian Federation have allowed preventing a large-scale war in the Caucasus that would have involved a similar aggression and genocide in relation to Abkhazia, where the preparation for a war against the Abkhaz people continued by Saakashvili’s order all these years in the Kodori Gorge.

The military operation of Saakashvili’s regime against South Ossetia was initiated in violation of Georgia’s international commitments. The barbaric aggression cancelled in no time the 15-year-long diplomatic and peacekeeping efforts of Russia and other states-members of the Group of Friends of the UN Secretary General on Georgia, aimed at restoration of the territorial integrity of Georgia. The issue of restoration of the territorial integrity of Georgia by political methods has been deprived of any perspective by now. The international community, which strongly rejected together with Russia the use of force for the post-conflict settlement, will have to acknowledge this new reality one day.

South Ossetia and Abkhazia that declared independence in 1992 as a result of the expression of the common will of their people and have built during the past years democratic states with all attributes of legitimate governments, have much more rights to lay claims to international recognition than, for instance, Kosovo.

The members of the State Duma regard as sound and morally justified the appeals of the peoples of Abkhazia and South Ossetia for recognizing their republics as full-fledged, sovereign and independent states, that were extended via their legally elected authorities on 20^th, 21^st and 22^nd of August of 2008. The recognition would create security guarantees, protect the peoples of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from external threats, foster international peace and regional stability in conformity with the aims and principles of the UN Charter and further the process of international recognition of South Ossetian and Abkhaz states.

Hence, the State Duma asks you, Dear Dmitry Anatolievich, to consider the recognition by the Russian Federation of the Republic of South Ossetia and Republic of Abkhazia as full-fledged, sovereign and independent states as well as the possibility of holding in the nearest future negotiations with the leaderships of the Republic of South Ossetia and Republic of Abkhazia with the purpose of creating legal grounds for intergovernmental relations that would regulate all the aspects of cooperation and mutual assistance, including security issues.

Moscow, August 25, 2008.

(www.duma.ru)