HOMEWARD BOUND: Russian soldiers withdraw from the suburbs of Gori,
Georgia, on August 18, after forcing Georgia out of South Ossetia

Second, Kosovo set an example for the two regions, when it declared independence in February with the support of major Western powers. At that time, Russia stood against Kosovo's separation from Serbia. It warned the West of the potential consequences but to no avail. After the West recognized Kosovo's independence, Russia found it difficult to explain to the people in South Ossetia and Abkhazia why they couldn't gain freedom as well, Medvedev said. International relations should not have such double standards, he added.

Third, Russia assumes that the United States, preoccupied with the presidential election, economic difficulties and the war in Iraq, may not be able to react effectively.

Western countries were united in their opposition. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Russia's move "regrettable" and threatened to use America's veto power, if the issue was referred to the UN Security Council. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama also condemned Russia's decision. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, accused Russia of violating UN Security Council resolutions and threatening security and stability in the Caucasus region. At the same time, NATO deployed a fleet in the Black Sea. The United States and other Western countries may continue to mount pressure on Russia by putting up barriers to its participation in the World Trade Organization, Group of Eight and other economic and technological cooperation. Russia's foreign exchange reserves plummeted in August as foreign investors withdrew from the country.

Russia's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states will have negative repercussions in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) as well. It has already soured relations between Russia and Georgia. Apart from severing its diplomatic relations with Russia, Georgia said it would strengthen its ties with NATO and the European Union (EU) and call for the deployment of an international peacekeeping force within its borders. Georgia borders the Pankisi Valley, a former stronghold of Chechen rebels. Russia waged two costly wars against the rebels without completely resolving the Chechen issue. The possibility of future conflicts in the region cannot be ruled out. Apart from South Ossetia and Abkhazia, there are a number of territorial disputes in the CIS, such as the conflict between Armenia