MOSCOW. April 17 (Interfax) - Russia must recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia before the spring of 2009, said Russian Duma Deputy Speaker Yury Volkov.
"The deadline for the recognition by Russia of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia should be set in the spring of 2009, when NATO is due to hold its jubilee summit," Volkov said in a statement obtained by Interfax on Thursday.