The South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions remained autonomous during the Soviet rule and have continued to ally themselves with Russia. Georgia lost control of South Ossetia in 1992 and Abkhazia in 1993, and although South Ossetia has established its own government, the international community has not recognized it. The dispute over South Ossetia escalated in August 2008 after Georgian troops marched into the region. In response, Russia invaded Georgia, an action largely condemned by Europe and the United States.

• "One hundred and fifty Russian tanks, armoured personnel carriers and other vehicles have entered South Ossetia. This is a clear intrusion on another country’s territory. We have Russian tanks on our territory, jets on our territory in broad daylight."—President Saakashvili of Georgia, Times Online (August 8, 2008)

• "The declaration of sovereignty by Kosovo and its recognition will undoubtedly be taken into account in [Russia's] relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia."—Russian Foreign Ministry (February 2008)

• "Georgia is a sovereign nation and its territorial integrity must be respected. We have urged an immediate halt to the violence and a standdown by all troops."—President George W. Bush