DescriptionDecree recognising South Ossetia independence.png	Decree of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev recognising independence of South Ossetia
Date	26 August 2008
Source	http://document.kremlin.ru/doc.asp?ID=47560
Author	Dmitry Medvedev
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English translation

"Decree on the recognition of the Republic of South Ossetia:

"First, in the light of the expression of the free will of the South Ossetian people to recognize the Republic of South Ossetia as a sovereign and independent State;

"Second, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation is to hold negotiations with the South Ossetian side on the establishment of diplomatic relations and on the agreement to prepare the appropriate documents;

"Third, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation is authorized to hold, with the participation of interested federal bodies and executive authorities, negotiations with the South Ossetia side on the preparation of a draft treaty on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance, and to submit those documents in the proper order for signature;

"Fourth, in connection with the appeal of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia to the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation to ensure, before the conclusion of the treaty in paragraph three of this decree, the implementation by the armed forces of the Russian Federation of peacekeeping functions on the territory of the Republic of South Ossetia."^[1]

1. ↑ United Nations Security Council Verbatim Report meeting 5969 page 6, Mr. Churkin Russia on 28 August 2008 (retrieved 2008-09-03)