The Russian parliament is expected to warn this week that if Georgia joins NATO, Moscow could recognize the independence of two breakaway republics.

"It will be necessary to take all measures to protect the Russian citizens living in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and investigate the possibility of speeding up the process of sovereignty ... up to recognizing their independence," according to a statement that the lower house of parliament is all but certain to adopt today.

Most of the residents in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two separatist regions in Georgia, have Russian passports.