MOSCOW, September 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russia plans to open an embassy in Georgia's breakaway republic of Abkhazia by the end of the year, a senior Foreign Ministry official said on Monday.
"We plan to settle all issues concerning the embassy by the end of this year," an official said, adding that a new building could be built to accommodate the diplomatic mission in Sukhumi, Abkhazia's capital.
Russia officially established diplomatic ties with South Ossetia and Abkhazia on September 9, when each side exchanged notes in Moscow.
"In the nearest future experts from Moscow will arrive in Sukhumi to decide the location of the Russian embassy," the city mayor, Alias Labakhua said on Monday.
Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Georgia's other breakaway territory on August 26, after Georgia launched a military offensive on South Ossetia in early August in an attempt to regain control over the region.
