MOSCOW. Nov 17 (Interfax-AVN) - Claims that Russia is using the so-called frozen conflicts on the territory of the former Soviet Union to exert pressure on Georgia are absurd, president of the breakaway republic of Abkhazia Sergei Bagapsh told a news conference at the Interfax main office in Moscow on Friday.
"No pressure is being put on us. [Russia] simply does not need it. [Russia] is not the kind of country that would use a 250,000-population to put pressure on Georgia. It is absurd," he said.
Asked what particular steps Russia should take to recognize the breakaway provinces, the Abkhaz leader said: "The Russian authorities and Russia need to do just the one thing - they should recognize us."