Russia recognizes independence of two breakaway Georgian republics

MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday he has signed an order recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two breakaway regions in the Republic of Georgia.

"This is not an easy choice but this is the only opportunity to preserve the lives of the people," Medvedev said, according to a translation from Russia Today.

Medvedev called on other countries to follow Russia's lead, which comes in the wake of the Russian-Georgian conflict that erupted earlier this month.