Why Russia Is Recognizing Independence Now

By Alex Chadwick,

Gregory Feifer

Published August 26, 2008 at 12:00 PM CDT

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev signed a decree Tuesday recognizing the independence of two breakaway regions of Georgia. The Bush administration is not happy with Russia's decree. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called the move "regrettable." Medvedev said the move was prompted by Georgia's attempts to seize control of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

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Alex Chadwick

For more than 30 years, Alex Chadwick has been bringing the world to NPR listeners as an NPR News producer, program host and currently senior correspondent. He's reported from every continent except Antarctica.

Gregory Feifer

Gregory Feifer reports for NPR from Moscow, covering Russia's resurgence under President Vladimir Putin and the country's transition to the post-Putin era. He files from other former Soviet republics and across Russia, where he's observed the effects of the country's vast new oil wealth on an increasingly nationalistic society as well as Moscow's rekindling of a new Cold War-style opposition to the West.