The Kosovo precedent tenses situation in the Transcaucasus, said Sergey Shamba, the leader of the unrecognized republic of Abkhazia. "The Georgian authorities are doing their utmost to prevent a development by the Kosovo scenario and are trying to tense the situation," said he.

Shamba said Abkhazia will not stay aside and will help South Ossetia if Georgia launches hostilities. "We clearly understand that a war in South Ossetia will be followed by one in Abkhazia. Thus, questions about expedience or inexpedience of interference just lose sense," said he, reports RIA Novosti.