Russia Expands Military Influence Over Georgia

On Nov. 25, Zurab Abashidze, the Georgian prime minister's special representative on relations with Russia, said his country would reconsider its dialogue with Russia after Moscow signed an agreement with Georgia's breakaway territory of Abkhazia. The Alliance and Strategic Partnership, signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Abkhazian President Raul Khadzhimba, formalizes Russia's commitment to defend and support the self-proclaimed independent republic, but it does so without requiring Russia to formally annex the territory. Georgia will continue to raise the possibility of joining NATO but will find it difficult to counter Russia's influence while other breakaway regions under Russian influence remain in flux.