The trouble with frozen conflicts is that they seldom stay that way. The unrecognised rebel region of Abkhazia looks like being the latest that could easily tip back into violence.

Georgia and Russia are at loggerheads over the territory, once the holiday playground of Moscow's elite. Georgia accuses Russia of creeping annexation, Abkhazia accuses Georgia of provocation and Russia is merrily exploiting their antagonism to demonstrate that it remains the dominant power.