Russian Government to consider if to open missions in unrecognized areas

The participants in the hearings in the Russian State Duma of March 13 have recommended the Russian Executive to consider over the timeliness of opening “special Russian missions” on the territory of unrecognized republics, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting RIA Novosti. South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Transnistria had addressed Russia to recognize their independence. Another aspect discussed during the hearings is related to the economic situation and the cooperation between the unrecognized republics and Russia. They considered the possibility that South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Transnistria should export goods to Russia, without paying export taxes. The condition is that the goods should be produced by companies with Russian shares. In the future, they want a partnership in the social-economic area and in the area of developing the exchange of humanitarian aid. The participants have proposed the Russian authorities to approve of acts insuring the observance of the rights of the Russian citizens on the territory of the breakaway republics. They consider that Russia should oppose to attempts of influencing the external policies of the unrecognized republics. In this regard, they discussed about reducing “the pressure on the economic and military spheres.” According to them, Russia should soon start to mediate and obtain the participation of South Ossetia, Abkazia and Transnistria in reunions of international forums and organizations. The participants have also proposed to take into account the rights of the Russian citizens on the territories of the secessionist republics in case Russia will sign international treaties with Georgia and Moldova. The hearings in the Lower Chamber of the Russian Parliament were attended by officials of the Russian Government and parliamentarians from the unrecognized republics.