Nikita Belykh, SPS:

We do not get peace on this territory and do not get additional advantage, as the unrecognized states have no economic power. At the same time, we are surely getting tensions with the World community and demonstrating illogicality. We do not recognize independence by Kosovo and we rightly reproach the EU countries and the US for deviation from the norms of the international law. And now we are doing the same through recognition of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This is protection of not national, but tactical interests and momentary advantage. We are getting no middle- or long-term advantages, but now it is possible getting support inside the country. Obviously, many people in Russia are experiencing a post-empire syndrome and they hail the recognition of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia as further annexing them to Russia.            

I reckon that the list of retaliatory measures by the West is clear. This is about joining NATO by Georgia and Ukraine, which we have been struggling against in recent years. This is about the problem of joining the WTO by Russia, which we have been working about for long. This is a probability of excluding Russia from G8, i.e. the loss of the status that we aspired to get. This is also about problems of hosting the Olympiad 2014 in Sochi. And this list can be continued.   

Nikolai Zlobin, Defense Information Center, Washington (USA):

As of today, Russia neither gains nor loses, as this has been an expected decision, and it brings no nuances into the trends that were formed some while ago. Moscow was the main advocate for the realities established after the cold war, while the West spoke for necessity of revisiting the structure of international organizations and new international law. That was a serious restrictive factor for the West, and Medvedev has taken upon himself a historical responsibility on behalf of Russia, abandoning this position. Russia has given up what she has been sticking to for 15 years, refusing the principle of territorial integrity and refusing the necessity of international legitimization of her policy. Many in the West are likely to feel relieved about the fact that Russia will not be clinging to the remains of the Yalta system at last.       

Sergei Karaganov, Foreign And Defense Policy Council:

We are not gaining anything out of recognizing the independence. Attacking by Georgia automatically meant the necessity of recognition the sovereignty of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia. There was no other solution. The only thing that Russia has proved is she will be standing firm on her position and is not going to give in to the pressure by the countries that wanted her defeat. The traditional West – the US, Great Britain and others – has declared a cold war against us, and this is why Russia will have to play in accordance with the new rules from now on.       

What matters is that we have lost maneuver now and are driven into a rather narrow tunnel. I’m not expecting anything good. It’s a pity that Russia knowing the mistakes of the past nevertheless has got into another cold war.  

Dmitry Mezentsev, Federation Council:

I consider it that posing a question of “advantages” for Russia is no good. Above all, it’s inappropriate towards the relatives of the people killed in this Georgia-Ossetia conflict. It’s Ossetians who died and who has been living on this land from the ancient times. It’s peaceful civilians who died, and the relations between generations got broken in many families, who did not want this war and could not see their future to be confident and predictable. This is why today, when Russia has given her help to the South Ossetian and Abkhazian peoples, we have no right for talking about advantages. This is our duty, position and sincere rightness, including the one from the point of view of protecting the norms of international law. It should not be forgotten that the Russia’s economy helps the West not only in terms of energy resources but also in terms of mutual ties, including those dealing with investment of financial means. So the way of sanctions would be mutual too. I think many people will have enough wisdom, people who are wondering whether similar instruments should be applied or not.  I believe we should carry on the dialogue even in case our positions differ.           

Gennady Gudkov, State Duma, “Just Russia”:

We neither lose nor gain. This is no poker. We are talking of realities that have shaped in the Caucasus. We have had to recognize the things that happened long ago. And we had to recognize that because the Georgian state had demonstrated it was ready to annihilate the ethnic groups in order to settle the territorial questions. Now a certainty has appeared. What was not talked about or was just hinted at has got a legitimacy. Now the question is where that certainty will lead to. It’s clear that Russia has got allies in those newly recognized republics. On the other hand, we are going to have a serious talk with the West, and we are losing at the moment. Now it’s necessary to focus on the dialogue with the West.         

Mikhail Kasyanov, former Russian Prime minister: 

There is only one advantage in what has happened: now it’s clear to everyone the essence of the “Putin-Medvedev” regime.  

A step taken towards isolation is a definite minus. Fulfillment or non-fulfillment of obligations of withdrawal the troops from another country’s territory, and execution of the Medvedev-Sarkosy plan on physical parameters is to show everything. Russia has already messed up the international arrangement of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia status and has factually put herself in confrontation with the outer world. Russian citizens should really reflect on where such a course would lead to: totalitarian state or collapse?     

Sergei Mitrokhin, Yabloko:

Russia gains nothing and loses much. She shows her inconsistency. The Medvedev-Sarkosy plan, signed by Russia on the presidential level, intends return to the status quo and further discussion of the problem on the international level. I counted that there would be no hasty decisions or that at least the President would take a pause. However, Russia has let understand she can recognize independence of territories constituting part of other states. With time, such an approach might be applied to Russia too. Unfortunately, Russia has made a precedent that might be used by our territories in the Caucasus, inclined to separatism.        

Svetlana Orlova, Federation Council:

I’m sorry to say that, but your question is silly. Genocide has been done, women, children and old people, peaceful civilians have been killed. I have been to Tskhinvali and I have seen that horror. That’s a real genocide. Russia is not just gaining; Russia has shown that she is a strong power capable of protecting herself and neighboring territories. I support the taken decision. Finally, we will be able to expose the double standards and the false democracy implanted by the US through the Georgian President.   

We are not afraid of any sanctions, as we have oil and resources and our water stock is 22% of the global stock. 

Lyubov Sliska, State Duma, “United Russia”: 

The advantage is that from now on Russia would be standing for Abkhazia and Ossetia. We like reasoning about a single person’s rights and forget about the rights of the entire people, about possibility by a nation to protect one’s own self-determination and ethnic culture, spirituality and unique identity.  

A minus is that for a while we will be dealing with international feverish activities; they will be lecturing us like it is done in a kindergarten. We shall be able to go through that! And we won’t have a cold war with the West; there is no hint for that. If someone is constantly speaking about that, that means the West wants a cold shower…We won’t be found wanting!