[JURIST] Russian president Dmitry Medvedev [official website] Wednesday signed [statement; press release] military defense agreements with Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia [JURIST news archive] despite heavy international criticism. Medvedev said that Russia now recognized the regions as independent countries since its conflict with Georgia [NYT report], and that his country planned to permanently station troops in the regions. In an attempt to preempt criticism of the agreement, Medvedev argued that the deals were of a nature sanctioned by the UN Charter [Chp. VII text]:

The key task now is to ensure Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s security. The agreements we have signed contain provisions enabling our countries to take the necessary joint measures to remove threats to peace and respond to acts aggression. We will provide each other will all necessary support, including military support. The treaties provide for this in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter proclaiming the right to individual or collective self-defence.

I want to take this opportunity here and now to stress that any repeat aggression by Georgia (and revanchist feelings are visible there, unfortunately, and the state is continuing its militarisation) would lead to a regional catastrophe. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that we will not allow another military adventure. There should be no illusions on this count. [sic]