Sochi, Russia - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday recognized the independence of Georgia's rebel regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. "Russia calls on other nations to recognize their independence. It is not an easy choice, but it is the only way to protect the lives of civilians," Medvedev said in a televized statement after meeting with Russia's security chiefs on Tuesday.
The Kremlin convened the security council at the president's Black Sea residence in Sochi on Tuesday to review a plea by Russia's parliament for recognition of the two Georgia's rebel regions.
Russia's powerful premier Vladimir Putin - Medvedev's predecessor as president - was also in attendance.
The two regions are internationally recognized as part of Georgia.
