Six ex-Soviet neighbors back Russia over Georgia

Russia has scored a key diplomatic victory by securing support for its war in Georgia from six other ex-Soviet nations. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he and other leaders of nations belonging to the Collective Security Treaty Organization signed a declaration Friday condemning Georgia's attempt to regain control of its province of South Ossetia. The war in Georgia plunged Russia's relations with the West to their post-Cold War low. Only few countries, including Cuba and Venezuela, have backed Russia's action so far. The Russian-led security grouping also includes Armenia, Belarus and four Central Asian nations: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.