TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia has opened an embassy in Nicaragua.

According to Apsnypress, Abkhazia’s ambassador to Venezuela, Zaur Gvajava, will also take on the function as ambassador to Nicaragua.

Nicaragua will help Abkhazians in their relations with other countries and will offer support in their attempts at getting recognition for Abkhazia’s independence, Zaur Gvajava said.

He notes that a so-called foreign affairs delegation will arrive from 20 to 27 May and sign an agreement about visa-freedom.

“The document is already prepared and only signatures are necessary.”

Also Georgia’s other breakaway region, South Ossetia, have opened an embassy in Nicaragua, thereby establishing diplomatic relations. Ambassador will be Namir Kozayev, who is also ambassador to Venezuela.

Officials in Tbilisi say nothing has changed legally by this.

“The international community doesn’t recognize this decision. Even more, the international community clearly condemned it and this doesn’t legally change reality,” Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Nino Kalandadze said.

On August 26, after a five-day war in August 2008, Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In total, five countries have recognized the separatist regions. Nicaragua was first to follow Russia on September 5, 2008. The President of Venezuela followed suit in September 2009, and after him, the Pacific island states of Nauru and Vanuatu. The Republic of Vanuatu is located on 83 islands in the Pacific Ocean. Its area is 12 000 square kilometers, and the population was 243 000 in 2009. In the western part of the Pacific is Nauru with a population of 14 000.

In 2011, the Russian newspaper Kommersant wrote that according to their estimate, Russia spent USD 3.25 billion in total on the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. USD 2.2 billion of this was paid to Venezuela, one billion to Nicaragua, and USD 50 million to Nauru. The newspaper wrote that the cost for the Russian people of recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia is is USD 23 per Russian. If Russia had distributed this money to Abkhaz and South Ossetia’s inhabitants, each person would receive USD 11 364.