All for One and One for All: Diplomatic Recognition of Kosovo, Abkhazia and South-Ossetia

... United-States recognized Kosovo to weaken Serbia and diminish Russian influence in the Balkans. A few months later, Moscow recognized Abkhazia and South-Ossetia to reduce Western influence in the Southern Caucasus. Yaroslav Lissovolik, Ekaterina Chimiris: Serbia–EAEU: Integration Prospects in a Free Trade Area If it were about International law and the Montevideo Convention, Russia would have also recognized Transnistria or Nagorno-Karabakh, and Western countries would have recognized other territories in the post-Socialist space instead of only pro-Western Kosovo. Spain — ...