Saakashvili announced today Georgia’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Independent States, in protest of Russia’s aggression. The Georgian President has called the Russian troops “occupational forces.”

“We have decided to quit CIS and to say farewell to the Soviet Union. We call on Ukraine and other members to also quit the CIS ruled by Russia.”

“We have also decided to renounce the Russian peacekeepers’ mandate and to declare Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories of Georgia.”

Saakashvili’s decision is significant as Russian troops in South Ossetia and Abkhazia had been deployed there under a CIS peace-keeping mandate. Georgia’s announcement may leave the formal legitimacy of the peace-keeping mission under question. During the ensuing negotiations, a new framework for the peace-keeping troops will probably have to be negotiated.