Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, said on September 10 in Moscow that his country was recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the Russian news agencies reported.

Chavez told his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, that he would consider the two regions as sovereign states “from Today,” he was quoted by the Russian news agencies.

"Venezuela is joining the recognition of the independence of the republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Chavez was quoted by Interfax and RIA Novosti news agencies.

“Thank you,” Medvedev responded. “You’ve made number of important statements and we will now discuss them.”

“We have always deemed a recognition issue as a sovereign right of each state… But of course we are not reluctant towards the faith of these two states [reference to Abkhazia and South Ossetia] and I want to thank you for taking such a decision,” Medvedev added.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega followed Russia’s suit and recognized two breakaway regions as independent states in September, 2008.