Medvedev: Separatist regions 'unlikely to be part of Georgia again'

Russia's president said today that the two separatist regions were unlikely to ever be parts of Georgia again.

Dmitry Medvedev said that although Russia respected the principle of territorial integrity, “after what happened, it’s unlikely Ossetians and Abkhazians will ever be able to live together with Georgia in one state.”

Russian troops drove Georgian forces out of both regions over the past week and Mr Medvedev said Moscow would support whatever decision the separatists made about their status.