Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) and Abkhaz President Sergei Bagapsh talk as they meet in Sukhumi, August 12, 2009. Putin made a surprise visit to the breakaway region of Abkhazia on Wednesday, pledging half a billion dollars to strengthen the defences of the Moscow-backed rebel enclave.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on August 12 pledged that Russia would continue to provide financial assistance to Abkhazia, the breakaway Georgian region, as promised.
Putin said during a meeting with Abkhaz leader Sergei Bagapsh in Abkhazia that Russia's plans to render financial aid to the region remained unchanged despite difficulties created by the global economic crisis.
"The funds agreed on for three years have been earmarked," Putin was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency.
Under agreements signed earlier this year, Moscow pledged 2.36 billion rubles (68 million U.S. dollars) to Abkhazia and 2.8 billion rubles (81 million dollars) to South Ossetia to help balance their budgets and boost development.
Putin's one-day visit to Abkhazia was the first by a high-level Russian delegation since Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Georgia's other breakaway region, after a brief war with Georgia last August.
