McCain accuses Russia of undermining Georgia

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Thursday accused Russia of seeking a de facto annexation of part of Georgia and urged European governments to join in condemning Moscow.

"We must not allow Russia to believe it has a free hand to engage in policies that undermine Georgian sovereignty," he said.

Russia said on Wednesday it would establish legal links with Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which border Russia in the Caucasus.

In response, Georgia demanded Russia drop plans to forge closer ties with the two rebel regions and urged the international community to help it put pressure on Moscow.

McCain, an Arizona senator long skeptical of Russian intentions in the region, said he had spoken by phone to Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.

He called Russia's move a violation of international law that "deserves strong condemnation by all countries committed to the rule of law."

"No country -- not even Russia -- has recognized the claims of Abkhaz and South Ossetian leaders to independence. Yet through its latest moves, Russia is furthering its policy of de facto annexation that undermines security and stability in the region," he said.

"Unfortunately, Russia's leaders have chosen a course of confrontation rather than cooperation," he added.

McCain has been a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, often saying on the campaign trail that when he looked into Putin's eyes, he saw the letters "KGB."

McCain said Russia acted even though NATO leaders at a summit this month had decided not to give Georgia a formal road map for entering the alliance.

"I hope that European leaders, along with international organizations such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United Nations, will join in strongly condemning Russia's move," he said.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Xavier Briand)