Germany Condemns Russian Pact with Georgia Breakaway Region

Germany on Friday criticized Russia for signing an alliance with Georgia's breakaway region South Ossetia this week, joining a chorus of Western condemnation.

"With this treaty, Russia once more puts into question Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty," German government spokeswoman Christiane Wirtz said.

"Moscow is hampering ongoing efforts for a peaceful conflict resolution with Abkhazia and South Ossetia," she said, adding that it would deepen "Georgian fears of a creeping annexation" of the territories by Russia.

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday inked a deal with South Ossetian leader Leonid Tibilov to make Russia responsible for defending the self-declared republic, where the Kremlin has stationed thousands of troops since a war with Georgia there in 2008.

Officials in pro-Western Georgia have blasted the pact -- similar to one sealed between Moscow and a second separatist enclave Abkhazia last year -- as a "de facto annexation" of its territory.

Moscow officially recognized the regions' independence after fighting a five-day war with Georgia in 2008 and stationed thousands of troops there.