So, Russia has recognised the independence of the Georgian breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This is more of a surprise than you might think, because despite their support for these rebel territories, the Russians had always been cautious when it came to questions of formal sovereignty.
An ethno-linguistic map of the Caucasus shows why: the Russian side of the border is dotted with territories that could have national aspirations of their own. The best known example is Chechnya, where separatist forces were suppressed in a series of bloody conflicts.
I wonder if the Russian government could explain why South Ossetia has the right to self-determination and not Chechnya or, for that matter, North Ossetia?
