In the context of the strategic partnership and alliance agreement, a common defense space was formed, Belousov told reporters after the negotiations with his Abkhazian counterpart, Vladimir Anua.

The defense minister recalled that for Moscow, the Republic of Abkhazia is a reliable ally in the Transcaucasia region, and called the 7th Russian military base in Abkhazia “an important element in ensuring regional security.”

Abkhazia and South Ossetia, former Georgian territories, proclaimed their secession from Tbilisi shortly before the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.

On August 8, 2008, then Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili ordered the invasion of South Ossetia and attacked its capital with heavy artillery , Tskhinvali, which was under the protection of Russian peacekeepers. After five days of hostilities, troops sent by Moscow expelled the Georgian army.

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