Putin signs treaty integrating the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia into Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, greets the leader of Georgia's breakaway province of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov during their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, March 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Maxim Shipenkov, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Russian President Vladimir Putin heads for a meeting with the leader of Georgia's breakaway province of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov at the Kremlin, Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, March 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Maxim Shipenkov, Pool) (The Associated Press)

MOSCOW – Russia has tightened its control over a second breakaway region of Georgia, with President Vladimir Putin and the leader of South Ossetia signing a new treaty that calls for nearly full integration.

South Ossetia broke away from Georgia in the early 1990s, and Russia effectively gained full control over it and a second breakaway region, Abkhazia, after a brief war against Georgia in 2008.

The treaty signed Wednesday in the Kremlin formally incorporates South Ossetia's economy and military into Russia's. A similar treaty was signed last year with Abkhazia.

Both regions depend on subsidies from Russia, and the signing of the integration agreements has been accompanied by promises to boost that funding.

Georgia has denounced the agreements, saying they jeopardize efforts to normalize relations with Russia.

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