Abkhazia asks Russia to recognise its independence

SUKHUMI, Georgia, Oct 18 (Reuters) The parliament of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia today made the first official request for Russia to recognise its independence.

''We ask the government of Abkhazia to call on the Russian Federation ... and international organisations and the international community to start the process of recognition of an independent Republic of Abkhazia,'' the petition read.

Abkhazia broke away from Georgia after a war in 1992-93, but so far no nation has recognised it. Georgia, in a crisis with Russia, accuses Moscow of backing Abkhaz separatists.

Moscow has never officially suggested it could recognise the independence of the breakaway Black Sea province, where the majority of its population carry Russian passports.

However, Russian officials have said that if the Serbian province of Kosovo is granted independence, similar requests from Abkhazia, another breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia and Moldova's separatist Transdniestria province could get stronger legitimacy.

Exactly a week ago, pro-Moscow Transdniestria appealed to other ex-Soviet states, including Russia, to recognise its independence. Russia has not reacted to the Transdniestrian appeal.

Reuters AB RN1843