The upper chamber of the Russian Parliament, the Federation Council, has ratified the treaties of friendship, co-operation and mutual assistance with the Republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Federation Council Chairman Sergey Mironov said the ratification “will contribute to international recognition of the Caucasian republics”.

Signed on September 17, they were later submitted to the parliament’s lower chamber, the State Duma, which ratified the treaties on October 29. Earlier the documents were ratified by the parliaments of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The accords provide legal basis for further relations between Russia and the republics, including political, economic, military and humanitarian co-operation.

Further links, such as military co-operation, will be detailed in additional agreements. Russia’s Foreign Ministry says the signing and ratification of these treaties demonstrates how seriously Moscow treats relations with the new republics.

The documents also imply the possibility for Russians, Abkhazians and Ossetians to hold dual citizenship.