“The decision of the International Court once more confirms the right of Abkhazia and [fellow breakaway Georgian region] South Ossetia to self-rule,” said Sergei Bagapsh.

The president of the Russian-backed breakaway Georgian territory of Abkhazia has welcomed the ruling by top UN judges that Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia was not illegal for his own reasons.

“The decision of the International Court once more confirms the right of Abkhazia and [fellow breakaway Georgian region] South Ossetia to self-rule,” said Sergei Bagapsh.

According to him from a historical and legal point of view, Abkhazia and South Ossetia have much more right to independence than Kosovo.