It would be a mistake to always assume that South Ossetia and Abkhazia are both identical Russian surrogate territories.  South Ossetia, as described by some, is ruled by a group of bandits living off smuggling rents from the Roki tunnel, and presided by an FSB-paid former Olympic wrestler.  There are of course more generous characterizations as well.  Abkhazia is quite a bit different and quite a bit larger, and its leaders are beginning to signal that Russia shouldn’t expect outright annexation, political or physical.  With renewed negotiations between Russia and Georgia underway, there are signs that Moscow’s attempts to exert influence in Abkhazia run a high risk of backfiring. From The New York Times:

And though Mr. Bagapsh has been adamant about maintaining a “multivector” foreign policy, ties to the West are fraying badly over the policy of nonrecognition and could decline further this summer, when the United Nations mission there could be forced to close. Domestic critics like Inal Khashig, an opposition journalist, worry that if the law regulating real estate sales is changed to allow foreign ownership, “within a week, all of Abkhazia will be sold,” and they despair of the region’s dependence on Russian money.