Ex-Soviet separatists weigh in on Kosovo

By Kazbek Basayev

SUKHUMI, Georgia (Reuters) - Residents of one disputed sliver of land in the former Soviet Union were asking on Monday: if Kosovo can be recognised as an independent state, why can't we?

Georgia's rebel region of Abkhazia on the Black Sea coast is one of four ex-Soviet breakaway regions which declared their independence in the 1990s and fought separatist wars but have not been recognised as states.

In Sukhumi, the Abkhaz capital that in places still bears the scars of fighting against Georgian troops, officials and citizens said they hoped Kosovo would create a legal precedent that they too could follow.

"If they recognised Kosovo, how are we any worse?" said Nodar Sheoua, a student standing in a snow-wet Sukhumi street.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on Sunday. U.S. President George W. Bush said on Monday Kosovo's people were now independent. His administration is expected to give formal recognition soon, along with most European Union states.

Western backers of Kosovo's independence say it does not create a precedent, but the ex-Soviet rebel regions call that a double standard which will be harder to defend now that Kosovo has declared independence.

Home to 200,000 people, Abkhazia has run its own affairs since driving out Georgian forces. The mountainous sliver of land that borders Russia has its own flag, elected government and armed forces.

Georgia refuses to relinquish its claim over Abkhazia, and its other breakaway region of South Ossetia -- a stance backed by Tbilisi's Western allies.