What's happened
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev hints at the possibility of Russia annexing Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the breakaway regions in Georgia.
Why it matters
The potential annexation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Russia is significant as it could further escalate tensions between Russia and Georgia, and potentially impact the geopolitical balance in the region.
What the papers say
The articles from Politico, Metro, and Al Jazeera all report on Dmitry Medvedev's comments regarding the potential annexation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Russia. While the articles provide similar information about Medvedev's statement, they differ in their tone and emphasis. Politico highlights the rejection of annexation by Abkhazia, Metro focuses on the popularity of joining Russia among the regions' residents, and Al Jazeera emphasizes Medvedev's warning in response to discussions of Georgia's possible NATO membership.
How we got here
The breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia have been a source of conflict between Russia and Georgia since the brief war in 2008. Russia has recognized the independence of these regions, and Medvedev's comments suggest a potential further escalation of the situation.
More on these topics
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Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is a Russian politician who has served as prime minister of Russia between 2012 and 2020. From 2008 to 2012, Medvedev served as president of Russia.
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Georgia is a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaija
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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Abkhazia, also known as Apkhazeti, officially the Republic of Abkhazia, is a partially recognized state in the South Caucasus, recognised by most countries as part of Georgia, which views the region as an autonomous republic.
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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 North American and European countries.
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Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia. The megacity stands on the Moskva River in the central portion of Western Russia, with a population estimated at 12.6 million residents within the city limits, while over 17 million residents in the urban