Putin strengthens ties with Georgia breakaway region; Tbilisi protests

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Abkhazia's President Raul Khadzhimba during a signing ceremony at the Bocharov Ruchei state residence in Sochi November 24, 2014. REUTERS/Alexei Druzhinin/RIA Novosti/Kremlin

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin signed a "strategic partnership" agreement with Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia on Monday, angering Tbilisi, which said Moscow was looking to annex the territory.

The agreement drew strong criticism from NATO and the European Union.