Regional issues
In the early nineties, with the break-up of the Soviet Union, three regions in Georgia like Chechnia in nearby Russia declared independence. The regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia broke away from Georgia and were continuing their independence with the help of Russian Federation. South Ossetia and Abkhazia have a common border with the Russian Federation, whereas North Ossetia is in the Federation. Russia is ruthlessly suppressing the Chechen revolt, but on the other hand contrastingly supporting similar revolts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Abkhazia is a Turkish word and the original inhabitants were Abkhaz Muslims. South Ossetians are mostly Christians. In the early nineties, Russia tolerated the breaking away of constituent states like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan etc. from the Soviet Union, but did not when it came to the small state of Chechnia. The USA, the architect of Kosovan independence, is opposing similar independence for nearby South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
China has a common border with Kashmir, but it never helped the people of Kashmir through this border either directly or indirectly though it was more vocal for the cause of Kashmiri people than Russia for the South Ossetians or Abkhazians. China continued to let the situation in Kashmir remain turbulent resulting in constant animosity between India and Pakistan.
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