Russian President Dmitry Medvedev instructed the foreign minister to begin to establish diplomatic relations with South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Vesti TV channel reported.
On 25 August, the Council of Federation and State Duma (Parliament) of Russia unanimously supported the appeal to President of Russian Federation to recognize independence of South Osstia and Abkhazia. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev decreed to recognize independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on 26 August.