Putin takes control of region in Georgia

MOSCOW: Russia cemented control over neighboring Georgia’s rebel Abkhazia region on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) with a “strategic partnership” deal that the Georgian government said amounts to annexation.

President Vladimir Putin signed the “alliance and strategic partnership” agreement which formalizes Russian dominance of the tiny separatist region’s foreign policy, armed forces and economy, as well as placing Russian guards on the border with the rest of Georgia.