Experts: Russia Launched New Geopolitical Confrontation

The signing of an agreement on strategic partnership and alliance between Russia and the breakaway republic of Abkhazia means a transition of the region under the full political and economic tutelage of Moscow.

This opinion was expressed by an Azerbaijani MP, political analyst Rasim Musabekov, commenting on the agreement signed by Vladimir Putin and Raul Khajimba yesterday for Turan.

If the previous Abkhaz leadership pursued a policy of independence from both Georgia and Russia, then, in the last election the Kremlin managed to bring to power its henchman, Khajimba, a former employee of the Russian special services.

And now, as Abkhazia is de facto ruled by the Russian "Governor General", it goes under the full Russian custody.

As for the possibility of opening the railway between Armenia and Russia through Abkhazia, the signing of this agreement is just not conducive to this, as the road goes through the territory of Georgia.

Official Tbilisi has reacted harshly to this agreement, accusing Russia of an effort to secure the annexation of the territory of Georgia, Abkhazia.

A similar reaction was from EU and NATO.

In turn, the head of the East-West Center, Arastun Orujlu believes that this agreement has opened a new phase of geopolitical confrontation for the South Caucasus.

Many experts have predicted that after Ukraine, Russia will switch to the South Caucasus.

Performing the minimum task in Ukraine, Russia began to implement plans for the South Caucasus and seeks to strengthen its positions in Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Russia will seek to legitimize its military, political and economic presence in Abkhazia, which is not a subject of international law.

However, in today's world, the world's centers of power do not burden themselves with the observance of international law.

At the same time, the military strengthening of Russia in Abkhazia and in particular in the Black Sea, may lead to retaliatory steps by Turkey, a NATO member.

Next Russia may repeat the military aggression against Georgia, to frustrate the implementation of energy projects in the western direction. Thus, Russia will not leave any choice to Azerbaijan but to become dependent on Moscow in the transportation of gas and oil to the West.

Russia will try to restore rail links with Armenia and for that Moscow will try to destabilize the situation in the Armenian-populated region of Georgia, Javakheti.

Orujlu believes that the West will hardly watch all this and it will take countermeasures that will exacerbate the situation in the region and make it difficult to predict. -06B-