Estonian President, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, said NATO’s refusal to give Georgia Membership Action Plan (MAP) at its summit in Bucharest might be perceived by Russia as a green light to “provocative” move to establish official links with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

“One possible interpretation is that the refusal, the opposition to giving MAP by some members, some allies, was perceived [in Moscow] as a green light to proceed with this rather dangerous step,” the Estonian President told Reuters on April 18 in Washington. “The Russian decree we think is provocative, counterproductive and ultimately wrong... We think that this kind of decree should be withdrawn or revoked.”

He said that Georgia’s response to Russia’s move was “remarkably and commendably calm,” but he also wondered, according to Reuters, whether Tbilisi could stay serene, especially with parliamentary elections scheduled for May 21.