Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh will...

On April 30, 2009, Russia and Abkhazia signed an agreement on bilateral cooperation in the protection of Abkhazia"s state borders. Russia guards over 350 kilometers of the tiny republic"s borders.

Bagapsh was sworn in for a second term on February 12, 2010 after his victory in last December"s elections. The polls were the first since Moscow recognized Abkhazia"s independence in August 2008 after a brief conflict with Georgia over South Ossetia, another former Georgian republic.

Abkhazia has also been recognized by Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru, the world"s smallest island nation.

SUKHUMI, February 15 (RIA Novosti)