Russia and Abkhazia signed a deal on Wednesday, February 17 to establish a <b>Russian military base</b> on the territory of Abkhazia.
The deal was signed during Kremlin talks between Abkhazian leader Sergei Bagapsh, who arrived in Moscow on Tuesday, and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
The base is designed "to protect Abkhazia's sovereignty and security, including against international terrorist groups," the document said.
The agreement was signed for a term of 49 years with a possible extension, RIA Novosti reported.
