After the declaration of independence of Kosovo, Kremlin-backed separatist leaders of Abkhazia (Georgian Apkhazeti) and Tskhinvali region of Georgia (soviet-communist name: "South Ossetia", Original name: Samachablo) have increased their contacts and travels to Moscow. They are trying to arrange their regions’ independence this way. The Kremlin will not back them openly of course, but in reality it is quite generous towards these regimes. At the beginning of March 2008 for example, Russia lifted the economic sanctions against the regions. It will not even mean a lot of change, because Russia was already importing contraband and providing arms, money and military instructors to the regimes. The so-called Russian peacekeeping troops in the regions are loyal to the Kremlin and are unfamiliar with principles of freedom of press and human rights.
Another question is what justice there is in the claim to independence of Abkhazia and "South Ossetia"(Original name: Samachablo) in comparison with Kosovo.
