TBILISI, DFWatch–The Syrian government on Tuesday recognized the two Georgian breakaway regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. In response, Tbilisi severed diplomatic relations with Damascus.

The Syrian regime has decided to undertake this step due to manipulation by Russia, Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia Davit Dondua said Tuesday afternoon.

“By this action, the Assad regime has supported military aggression against Georgia by the Russian Federation, the illegal occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions and years of ethnic cleansing,” Dondua said.

Syria’s recognition of the disputed territories was first announced by the breakaway regions’ authorities and soon confirmed by Damascus.

“In recognition of the support in a fight against terrorist aggression, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia have agreed to exchange the recognition and establishment of relations between the Syrian Arab Republic and the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia, and establish diplomatic relations at embassy level,” the Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The decision was hailed in Sokhumi and Tskhinvali.

“[Recognition] is a continuation of the irreversible process that our strategic partner Russia started in 2008. I’m sure every year more and more countries will begin to consider the political reality established in the Caucasus,” de facto president of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov said.