Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev says Moscow may formally annex two breakaway areas of neighbouring Georgia.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia have successfully been beneath the management of Moscow since a brief battle between Russia and Georgia over the areas in 2008.

Moscow recognises each as impartial states, whereas most United Nations members view them as Russian-occupied Georgian territory.

Mr Medvedev, who was president in 2008 when Moscow previously recognised the 2 areas as impartial, has now recommended they may previously be part of Russia.

In an article printed by Russian newspaper Argumenty i Fakty on Wednesday - the fifteenth anniversary of Mr Medvedev's decree - he wrote: "The concept of becoming a member of Russia remains to be well-liked in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"It could quite possibly be implemented if there are good reasons for that."

He recommended such a transfer may very well be pushed ahead if Georgia takes steps in direction of becoming a member of NATO.

"We will not wait if our concerns become closer to reality," Mr Medvedev wrote.

Both Abkhazia and South Ossetia held autonomous standing inside Georgia throughout its interval beneath the management of the Soviets.

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When Georgia declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, each areas declared their very own intention to interrupt away.

This led to armed conflicts between the separatists and the newly-formed Georgian authorities, who tried to take management of the areas by drive.

Moscow determined to assist the breakaway areas, aggravating relations between Georgia and the post-Soviet Russian authorities.

The tensions got here to a head in 2008, when the Georgian armed forces launched an offensive to take management of Abkhazia, sparking a brief conflict between Russia and Georgia.

Russian troops entered each Abkhazia and South Ossetia and pushed again the Georgian forces, earlier than Mr Medvedev signed a decree formally recognising the 2 areas as impartial states.

Georgia responded by declaring the transfer an annexation of its territory.

The overwhelming majority of United Nations members additionally refused to recognise the independence of the 2 breakaway areas.

Since then, Georgia has maintained blended diplomatic relations with its far-bigger neighbour.

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Tbilisi criticised Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, from which Moscow annexed 4 extra areas in September final 12 months.

However, Georgia, which depends on Russia for tourism and the exportation of its wine, has not joined the West in imposing sanctions on Russia.

Moscow, in the meantime, has strongly opposed strategies that Georgia may sooner or later be part of NATO.

Georgian officers have repeatedly expressed a want to hitch the navy alliance, on the idea that it might assist to safe the nation's territorial integrity.