Comments made by Russian Prime Minsiter Vladimir Putin suggest that Russia may be preparing to annex the republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by the back door. Putin is reported by Russia Today to have called for the border between the Russian Federation and South Ossetia to be "eliminated" to allow Ossetians living on both sides of the border to travel "without restrictions and formalities". According to Putin, removing border controls will help to "rejuvenate the republic's economy", badly damaged after 16 years of diplomatic isolation and a war that caused major damage to the capital, Tskhinvali.

Since Moscow recognized the independence of the two breakaway republics, the Russian, South Ossetian and Abkhaz Presidents have signed a series of bilateral agreements. Both republics remain dependent on Russian economic aid, especially South Ossetia, whose only connection with the outside world is the Roki Tunnel, which links it to North Ossetia and the Russian Federation. Leaders of the three countries are calling for closer economic and transportation links.

Kokoity ambivalent
But for Russia's critics, such as Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, it is clear where these agreements are heading: Russia wants to annex South Ossetia and Abkhazia by the back door. In mid-September, South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity stated that his country would be reunited with North Ossetia and become part of the Russian Federation. The South Ossetian leader's words do not seem to have pleased the Kremlin, however, because a few hours later Russia claimed it had no intention of incorporating the Caucasian republic. Kokoity then made a complete U-turn, claiming never to have said that he wanted South Ossetia to be part of Russia and that his words had been misinterpreted.

In an article published in the Washington Post last week Saakashvili argues that Abkhazia and South Ossetia have already effectively been annexed by Russia. He accuses Moscow of "covering up" the "ethnic cleansing" of the ethnic Georgian population that he believes has taken place in both breakaway republics. The Georgian President also stresses that the war in August was started by Russia and not by Georgia.

Calls for Belarus to recognize the independence of the two breakaway republics
As Russian diplomats continue to seek international support for Abkhaz and South Ossetian independence, which have so far only been formally recognized by Nicaragua, the presidents of the two republics themselves have called on Belarusian support. According to the Belta news agency, the Belarusian President has received letters from Kokoity and the Abkhaz President, Sergei Bagapsh, asking for formal recognition from Minsk. But the Belarusian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, has said that he will not be pressed into making a quick decision and that the new Belarusian Parliament, elected on September 28, will need to debate the issue: "It is a very delicate matter. Once we have discussed it, we will make a decision," he said.

• Reuters: Russia's Putin calls for S.Ossetia open border: report
• Interfax: South Ossetia to ask for permanent observer status in Union of Russia and Belarus
• AFP: Vladimir Poutine appelle à "liquider la frontière" avec l'Ossétie du Sud