Kremlin-backed leader says Abkhazia ready to join Union State of Russia, Belarus

Aslan Bzhania, de facto leader of Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia has expressed the region's readiness to join the Union States of Russia and Belarus.

"In the case of such a prospect as Union State with Russia, Belarus and other states that want to join this union, we will gladly support this idea and be full members of this state. The idea of [the Union State] is close to us, the Abkhazians, it is in our national interests," Bzhania said in an interview with Russian journalist Vladimir Solovyov, Georgia's Interpress News reported on August 25.

He added that Abkhazia understands the necessity of a strong alliance with the Russian Federation in the new realities when the unipolar world has collapsed.