In a development signalling a further move in the direction of a breakoff from Georgia, the leaders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on Thursday signed the ceasefire agreement for the southern Caucasus region, dpa reported.
With Russian President Dimitry Medvedev looking on, the internationally-unrecognised leaders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Eduard Kokoity and Sergei Bagapsh, signed the document, the Interfax agency said.
At the occasion, Medvedev expressed his understanding for the two regions' desire to break away from Georgia, and pledged that "Russia will support every decision by the people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia."
The Kremlin leader also assured the two of further Russian support.
In order to prevent new "attacks by the Georgian side" a beefed-up Russian peace force would remain in South Ossetia, Medvedev said, while saying that at the same time Russia would help in the search for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
The ceasefire deal was agreed on Tuesday between Medvedev and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, acting in his role as the current head of the European Union council of ministers.