The tiny Pacific island of Nauru recognized South Ossetia by establishing diplomatic ties with Tskhinvali on December 16, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The agreement was signed between Nauru’s Foreign Minister Kieren Keke and the breakaway region’s ambassador to Russia, Dmitry Medoev, in Moscow.

Nauru, which is the world's smallest island nation, signed the same agreement with Georgia’s another breakaway region of Abkhazia on December 15.

“This step by our partners from the Pacific region further strengthens Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s international legal basis,” Andrei Nesterenko, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman, said.

“As far as skeptical comments, heard from Tbilisi [about this recognition], are concerned, it once again demonstrates Georgian senior officials’ negligence towards small nations and states,” he added.

Russian daily Kommersant reported that before visiting the breakaway regions, Nauru’s Foreign Minster held talks in Moscow last week with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

The newspaper reported that Moscow pledged financial assistance to Nauru in exchange of recognition of two breakaway regions. According to the same report Nauru requested USD 50 million aid.