Georgians on the streets of Tbilisi reacted defiantly but without surprise on Tuesday to Russia's recognition of two rebel provinces, some refusing to accept they may have lost Abkhazia and South Ossetia for good.

"I give you a 100 percent guarantee we will return," vowed Yermile Kheladze, a Georgian from the Black Sea region of Abkhazia.

Elsewhere in the Georgian capital, the streets were quiet and many people appeared to lack the appetite for politics.

"This subject absolutely doesn't interest me," said a young dark-haired woman sitting on a bench beside the main avenue, Rustaveli Prospect.

"People in Europe need to know this threatens not only Georgian democracy. This is a threat to the whole world," said Gocha Ochigava, aged 28 and also originally from Abkhazia.

"We are for peace and justice, but for the sake of peace we are ready to do absolutely everything."

-- Reuters