title: Russia will avoid annexing Georgian statelets
abstract: Subject Abkhazia and South Ossetia as models for Russian-backed statelets. Significance South Ossetia and Abkhazia offer pointers for Russian decision-making on the future of eastern Ukraine. Nine years since Moscow recognised both territories as sovereign states, its economic support is critical to their survival while Russian troops on the ground uphold their claims to independence from Georgia. Recent months have seen heated debate about their different ambitions: Abkhazia for greater soverei
journal: Emerald expert briefings