The glorious Russian army takes the surrender of yet another powerful enemy in Georgia
EDITORIAL
Is Dima Medvedev a Liar, or Simply an Idiot
Russia’s so-called “president” Dmitri Medvedev told the President of France his troops would stop fighting a few days after they invaded Georgia with no warning to the international community, much less to Georgia.
Instead of doing so, they then plunged deeper into Georgia, threatening the capital, and blew up the main railway line linking the country east to west.
The world became furious, and demanded that a ceasefire be imposed. Medvedev signed a second agreement, pledging to begin withdrawing his forces on Monday. But the New York Times reported early Tuesday morning Moscow time that, once again, Medvedev was not true to his word. The paper wrote:
Although Russia claimed it had begun withdrawing its troops from Georgia on Monday, Russian soldiers were digging in positions along the highway approaching Tbilisi and showed no signs of pulling back from the severest confrontation between Russia and the West since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Instead, along one major road, four Russian tanks rattled a few miles closer to the capital, and then plowed through parked police cars blocking a road as Georgian police officers stood by in dismay. Elsewhere on the ground in Georgia, no significant troop movement was evident. American officials said Sunday the Russian military had been moving launchers for short-range ballistic missiles into South Ossetia, a step that appeared intended to tighten its hold on the breakaway territory. The Russian military deployed several SS-21 missile launchers and supply vehicles to South Ossetia on Friday, according to American officials familiar with intelligence reports. From the new launching positions north of Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian capital, the missiles can reach much of Georgia, including Tbilisi, the capital.
The next day, Russians blockaded the port of Poti and took 22 Georgia soldiers prisoner. So much for Medvedev’s word and signature.
There are only two explanations for Russia troops “digging in” and driving over police cars and blockading the major commercial port and taking prisoners when the “president” of Russia told the world they wouldn’t: (a) the “president” was lying; (b) the “president” isn’t really in charge, he only thinks he is — in other words, he’s one of the great morons of world history.
Since it is Russia, both explanations are perfectly credible, and it’s impossible to say which one is the more terrifying. What makes Russia less barbaric, that the “president” is a total fool (but at least he doesn’t knowingly lie) or that he’s willing to formally mislead the entire world, rendering Russia’s word meaningless in international discourse (but at least he’s not an actual simpleton)?
We can’t say. What we do know is that nobody who can tie his shoelaces can now dispute what we’ve been saying for more than two years now. Russia is an Evil Empire. The new war against it has begun.
And Medvedev is handing out neo-Soviet medals to the gallant Russian soldiers who are fighting it, like those shown in the paragraph above, rewarding them for beating up their tiny neighbor in the first real battle of that war. Their actions amount to “a frenzy of murder, rape, looting and the torching of their property by roaming bands of crazed militiamen.” And this, by modern Russian standards, is patriotic heroism. Zoshchenko could make hilarious fun of a neo-Soviet spectacle so pathetic and repugnant as this — but he wouldn’t have been allowed to publish it in the USSR, and nor would any successor be allowed to do so in “Medvedev’s” Russia.
La Russophobe 
I vote: LIAR
If he were just an idiot, he would not be employed in that position. Idiots can not be depended on to lie with a straight face.
Russian President is a idiot!
I am sad to see how politicians manipulate public opinion through the media. People are trained to believe everything that is said in the media that they did not think, did not analyze the information themselves. They want you to obediently did what they needed, profitable. And you do this, you’re just zombies …
How can you decide, let alone condemn and blame someone? What do you know about Russia, Georgia, and the events of August? Were you there? Or At least listened to the views of both sides. After a fight, everyone gay will scream and call the guilty of another. And to somehow deal to become lost in the world of each of them.
I am Russian, live in Sochi. Often I go to Abkhazia. I have many acquaintances and friends from Georgia.
And living here, and knowing the real situation in Georgia, it pains me to read the foreign media. Politicians faced by the people and provoke the war for their own enrichment.
In the media a lot of lies about these events. But there are facts that can be analyzed. Even just to compare the message of Western and Russian media. When in Russia during the entire broadcast that Georgia bombed Tskhinvali, the Western media calmly handed the Olympic Games in China. Russia’s military took nearly 2-e days to come to South Ossetia to help. And only in the foreign media began reporting on the whole of Russia attacking Georgia. Ossetia and Georgia are two different things! It is time to take today’s realities. A puncture of the media, when the studio was invited just flown in from Ossetia mother and daughter, and they began questioning him about the Russia’s attack , and the daughter said that the Russian rescue them from the Georgian military, and transfer immediately ceased to broadcast? What is it?
Yes, I am not talking about those happy faces and those words when Russia troops entered Tskhinvali. I saw it and heard. Both women hugged and kissed the soldiers. Grateful that Russia were not abandoned them, as the left once Yugoslavia.
And about gori all funny! Was not there Russian. Georgian media afraid of their own tanks, but then decided not to debunk the myth but to continue it.
The Georgian authorities would never have started bombing if not enlisted the support of Western friends and the guarantee of such conduct media.
We just watched the play was planned, aimed at forming public opinion. Apparently money from past conflicts and the Cold War began to end with the puppeteers, and a new confrontation.
Politicians are playing their political games, and the people suffer.
So what was that Russian General doing in Gori?
By the way, it was Russians and separatists who committed ethnic cleansing, not the other way around.
Really Sergey, try harder.
By the way, Russian troops passed into Georgia on the morning of the 8th, and it took them 3 days to fight their way into Tshkinvali.
“North” Ossetia and Georgia are two different things, however “South Ossetia” is a creation of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was part of Georgia long before the Ossetians left the don and volga basins under Mongol pressure.
Are you sane?
No such thing as ‘Georgia’ known in history before 1918.
Regarding the history of South Ossetia
Historically Ossetia (and North and South) was originally a single state. Its people speak the same, has the same culture. And he was still in the Russian Empire. The term “South Ossetia” was used by the Russian military and then civilian administration in the beginning of XIX century. This term was collective in nature and meant mountainous areas of historical and geographic areas.
Transformation of the term “South Ossetia” in the designation of the administrative-territorial entity with some administrative boundaries occurred in the Soviet Union in 1922, when it was formed by the South Ossetian Autonomous Region of the Georgian SSR.
And South Ossetia, annexed to Georgia for convenience, because Ossetia is divided geographically into North and South ridge. Then there was a large general government and this division has been suspended. Was geographically convenient to unite South Ossetia with Georgia, anyhow all live in one state – the USSR. Moreover, the Ossetians did not even ask if they want to be part of Georgia.
With the collapse of the USSR and the problems started.
In 1991-1992, there was a war between South Ossetia and Georgia, which resulted in the May 29, 1992 the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of South Ossetia adopted the “Act of State Independence of the Republic of South Ossetia. This was the final step in the legal formalities and statehood of South Ossetia, announced another 20 September 1990.
The fighting, descended to the level of single contact fire and raids were stopped after the signing between Russia and Georgia Dagomys agreements. Dagomys Agreement provided for a ceasefire and the creation of a body to resolve the conflict – the Joint Control Commission, which includes Georgian and South Ossetian sides, Russia and, as a separate part, North Ossetia.
July 13, 1992 ceased shelling Tskhinvali.
July 14, 1992 in the conflict zone were introduced peacekeeping force composed of three battalions (Russian, Georgian and Ossetian).
Significantly, 19 January 1992 in South Ossetia held a referendum on two issues:
Do you agree that the Republic of South Ossetia was independent?
whether you agree with the decision of the Supreme Council of the independent Republic of South Ossetia on September 20, 1991 to reunite with Russia?
Over 98% answered “yes” to both questions.
Despite the fact that the Supreme Council of the Republic of South Ossetia (RSO), proclaimed the independence of the republic as an independent state based on the right to self-determination under the Statute of the UN and other international legal instruments, as well as taking into account the outcome of the elections to the Supreme Council of the RSO on December 9, 1990, and the will of the people expressed in the referendum on January 19, 1992, before the war in South Ossetia in August 2008, the independence of South Ossetia, has been recognized only by other unrecognized state entities in the former Soviet territories (Abkhazia, Nagorno Karabakh and Transnistria).
According to the Constitution of Georgia continues to part of it (in the form of parts of the region), but de facto independence from Georgia.
Thus South Ossetia actually exists independently, but unrecognized, more than 17 years.
Wrong as usual Sergey,
The term “South Ossetia” only began to be used in the late 19th century due to a massive influx of Ossetians from North Ossetia, prior to that is was referred to as “Shvida Kartli” and Samachablo.
“South Ossetia” was part of the kingdom of Georgia for centuries before an Ossetian set foot there in the 12th century. It was administered as part of east Georgia under the Tsarist system.
I suggest you look back further than the soviet period little man.
And what is wrong in my words? You yourself acknowledge them.
I will not insult you, and I know about pre-Soviet period.
But I’m talking about the current situation.
And if you talk like you, even if all current U.S. and Canada will release the land they occupied, the entire North American continent.
But I’m not talking about it, because everyone took the current situation.
And we should understand that although geographically Samachablo and modern South Ossetia nohodyatsya in one place, but a different concept. It is also absurd as to compare the current U.S. with Maya, Aztecs, Incas and so on.
Resolution 1633 (2008)1
The consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia
1. The Parliamentary Assembly is firmly committed to the pursuit of peace and the principles embodied in the Statute of the Council of Europe (ETS No. 1): democracy, human rights and the rule of law, as well as to principles of state sovereignty, the right to territorial integrity and the inviolability of state frontiers. Respect for these principles is an obligation incumbent upon all member states of the Council of Europe.
2. When joining the Council of Europe, both Georgia and Russia committed themselves to settle conflicts by peaceful means and in accordance with the principles of international law.
3. The Assembly condemns the outbreak of war between two member states of the Organisation and deplores the human suffering it has caused.
4. The Assembly is conscious that, although the outbreak of the war on 7 August 2008 may have come unexpectedly to most of its members, it was the result of a serious escalation of tension, with provocations and ensuing deterioration of the security situation, which had started much earlier. Steps to reduce tension were not taken and the possibility of military intervention became an option for both sides in the conflict. This is unacceptable for the Assembly. It is of the view that in the end the peacekeeping format proved that it could not fulfil its intended function and that the peacekeepers did not succeed in their mission to protect the lives and property of the people in the conflict area. It therefore regrets that earlier calls to discuss a change in the format of the peacekeeping and conflict resolution process were rejected by South Ossetia and Russia.
5. However, the initiation of shelling of Tskhinvali without warning by the Georgian military, on 7 August 2008, marked a new level of escalation, namely that of open and fully fledged warfare. The use of heavy weapons and cluster munitions, creating grave risks for civilians, constituted a disproportionate use of armed force by Georgia, albeit within its own territory, and as such a violation of international humanitarian law and Georgia’s commitment to resolve the conflict peacefully.
6. At the same time, the Russian counter-attack, including large-scale military actions in central and western Georgia and in Abkhazia, equally failed to respect the principle of proportionality and international humanitarian law, and constituted a violation of Council of Europe principles, as well as of the statutory obligations and specific accession commitments of Russia as a member state. It led to the occupation of a significant part of the territory of Georgia, as well as to attacks on the economic and strategic infrastructure of the country, which can be deemed to be either a direct attack on the sovereignty of Georgia and thus a violation of the Statute of the Council of Europe, or an attempt by Russia to extend its influence over a “near abroad” state in violation of its accession commitment to denounce such a concept.
7. In this respect, the Assembly considers that, from the point of view of international law, the notion of “protecting citizens abroad” is not acceptable and is concerned by the political implications of such a policy by the Russian authorities for other member states where a substantial number of Russian citizens reside.
8. The Assembly believes that truth is a precondition for reconciliation. Since the facts surrounding the outbreak of the war are disputed by both Georgia and Russia, they should be established, in an objective manner, by an independent international investigation. The Georgian authorities have indicated that they would welcome such an international inquiry and the Russian members of parliament have also indicated that they would not object to this proposal. This investigation should not be limited to the outbreak of the war, but should also focus on the years leading up to the conflict.
9. The Assembly condemns the recognition by Russia of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as a violation of international law and Council of Europe statutory principles. The Assembly reaffirms its attachment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia and calls on Russia to withdraw its recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and respect fully the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, as well as the inviolability of its frontiers.
10. The Assembly particularly deplores the fact that the recognition of independence was prompted by the unanimous demand of both houses of the Parliament of Russia, the State Duma and the Council of the Federation. It is seriously concerned that the act of recognition, followed by the recent signing by Russia of friendship and co-operation treaties with the de facto authorities in Tskhinvali and Sukhumi, hinders the implementation of the European Union-brokered ceasefire agreement, as well as the provision of humanitarian aid and monitoring of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement by independent observers.
11. The Assembly is concerned about the human rights and humanitarian law violations committed by both sides in the context of the war, such as the intentional or avoidable killing or wounding of civilians, as well as destruction of property. In particular, the use of indiscriminate force and weapons by both Georgian and Russian troops in civilian areas can be considered as war crimes that need to be fully investigated.
12. Russia appears not to have succeeded in its duty, under the 1907 Hague Convention (IV) on the Laws and Customs of War on Land, to prevent looting, maintain law and order and protect property in the areas under the de facto control of its forces. In this respect, the Assembly notes that Russia bears full responsibility for violations of human rights and humanitarian law in the areas under its de facto control. In the light of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, this also concerns acts committed at the behest of the de facto authorities in Tshkinvali.
13. The Assembly is especially concerned about credible reports of acts of ethnic cleansing committed in ethnic Georgian villages in South Ossetia and the “buffer zone” by irregular militia and gangs which the Russian troops failed to stop. It stresses in this respect that such acts were mostly committed after the signing of the ceasefire agreement on 12 August 2008, and continue today.
14. The total number of deaths and persons wounded has been the subject of controversy. The most recent independent estimates indicate that 300 persons were killed and approximately 500 were wounded on the South Ossetian and Russian sides, and that 364 persons were killed and 2 234 were wounded on the Georgian side. These figures are far lower than those initially advanced in particular by Russia. Some 54 persons remain missing from the conflict on the Georgian side and 6 persons are missing on the South Ossetian side. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), however, continues to receive tracing requests from families of the missing.
15. Some 192 000 persons were displaced as a consequence of the war. The Assembly is concerned that a total of 31 000 displaced persons (25 000 from South Ossetia and 6 000 from Abkhazia) are considered to be “permanently” unable to return to their original places of residence. These numbers should be seen in the context of the approximately 222 000 persons who remain displaced from the previous conflict in the early 1990s.
16. The Assembly welcomes the role played by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights who travelled to the region in August and September 2008, organised the exchange of prisoners and spelled out six principles for urgent protection of human rights and humanitarian security. The Assembly fully supports these principles.
17. The Assembly welcomes the initiative of the Swedish Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers which, inter alia, convened an informal extraordinary meeting of the ministers for foreign affairs of member states of the Council of Europe on 24 September 2008 in order to prepare the response of the intergovernmental sector of the Organisation to the crisis.
18. The Assembly further welcomes the fact that the European Union, under the French Presidency, has been actively involved since the outbreak of the conflict and recalls its earlier appeals to this effect in its Resolution 1603 on the honouring of commitments and obligations by Georgia, adopted in January 2008. The Assembly further invites the European Union to strengthen its own monitoring mission on the ground and give it a mandate and resources not only to monitor, but also to protect persons and property, pending the restoration of public security by the Georgian police.
19. The Assembly also welcomes the proposal of the Turkish Government concerning a “Caucasus stability and co-operation platform” as a complementary and constructive initiative.
20. The Assembly calls on the Russian authorities to allow observers from both the European Union and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to have access to South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which are under the de facto control of Russia. In addition, differences about the role of European Union observers in the so-called “buffer zone” may lead to an even further deterioration of the security situation in this area, impeding the return of displaced persons after Russian troops have withdrawn from it.
21. The Assembly welcomes the quick reaction of the international community in providing assistance to the region. It welcomes the fact that the Russian authorities have provided generous support to refugees from South Ossetia and that the Georgian authorities similarly have mobilised considerable resources to meet the immediate needs of those persons displaced within Georgian territory under their effective control. However, the Assembly is concerned that the recognition by Russia of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia is hindering the effective deployment of humanitarian aid in these areas.
22. In view of the above-mentioned considerations and taking into account in particular the findings of the ad hoc committee of its Bureau, which visited Georgia and Russia in the context of the war from 21 to 26 September 2008, the Assembly urges Georgia and Russia to:
22.1. implement unconditionally all points of the European Union-brokered ceasefire agreement. This implies, in particular, the obligation for Russia to withdraw its troops to positions ex ante the conflict and refrain from any act of provocation to justify maintaining the presence of Russian troops in the so-called “buffer zone”;
22.2. enable OSCE and European Union observers to be deployed into South Ossetia and Abkhazia; Russia should also withdraw its recognition of independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia;
22.3. co-operate fully in the establishment of an independent international investigation to look into the precise circumstances surrounding the outbreak of the war; this initiative should be without prejudice to the work of inquiry committees set up or to be set up within their own parliaments, which the Assembly fully supports;
22.4. work towards the creation of a new peacekeeping format and to internationalise the peacekeeping force, with the active participation of Council of Europe and European Union member states, in order to establish genuine conditions for the start of a peace process;
22.5. participate unconditionally in the Geneva talks scheduled for 15 October regarding the modalities of stability and security in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. In this respect the Assembly regrets that these talks will now only take place at expert level;
22.6. refrain from inflammatory discourse and take steps to maintain good neighbourly relations;
22.7. ensure effective respect for all human rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ETS No. 5) and humanitarian norms under the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols on the territories under their de facto control;
22.8. investigate all allegations of human rights violations committed during the war and in its aftermath, and hold the perpetrators to account before the domestic courts;
22.9. allow safe and unhindered access by the media to the conflict zone, in accordance with Assembly Resolution 1438 (2005) on freedom of the press and the working conditions of journalists in conflict zones;
22.10. make full use of available means of peaceful conflict resolution, including, as appropriate, the European Court of Human Rights, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, in order to resolve the underlying conflict situation; in this context, implement the interim measures ordered by the European Court of Human Rights on 12 August 2008, upon the request of the Georgian Government, as well as any forthcoming judgments of the Court concerning alleged violations of human rights relating to the conflict;
22.11. join the United Nations Convention on Cluster Munitions.
23. The Assembly calls on all parties to the conflict, namely Georgia, Russia and the de facto authorities in South Ossetia to:
23.1. take urgent measures to guarantee the security of all persons within the region of South Ossetia, and those in the so-called “buffer zone”. The de facto authorities in South Ossetia and the Russian forces have, in particular, the obligation to:
23.1.1. stamp out lawlessness (including physical assault, robbery, kidnapping, harassment, looting and torching of property), in accordance with Article 43 of the Hague Convention (IV) of 1907 and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949;
23.1.2. provide, without delay, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and all humanitarian organisations with unhindered access to the areas affected by the conflict, in particular in the region of South Ossetia and the so-called “buffer zone”. All organisations providing humanitarian assistance in these areas should be guaranteed safety.
23.2. remove all mines and unexploded ordnance. This implies all parties to the conflict exchanging information on the use and location of such materials, and also the involvement of experts on mine and ordnance location and removal. The people living in these areas, as well as other persons concerned, must be made aware of the dangers of mines and unexploded ordnance;
23.3. co-operate fully with all international monitoring missions, whether from the United Nations (UN), the OSCE, the European Union, the Council of Europe or any other international body and grant these organisations full access to the conflict regions;
23.4. ensure that all persons displaced by the conflict have the right to return on a fully voluntary basis and to refrain from using displaced persons as political pawns when tackling the issue of return. Furthermore, all internally displaced persons should have the right to return in safety and dignity, or to resettle voluntarily or integrate locally;
23.5. release and exchange immediately hostages, prisoners of war and other persons detained as a result of the conflict, without requiring reciprocity from any of the parties;
23.6. solve the issue of missing persons from the recent conflict and the earlier conflict, ensuring that the issue is treated as a humanitarian issue and not a political issue. Furthermore, establish a multilateral co-ordination mechanism with commissions in charge of searching for missing persons;
23.7. take concrete measures to fully and effectively implement the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights’ six principles for urgent protection of human rights and humanitarian security drawn up after his August 2008 visit to the region.
24. The Assembly calls on all member states and states with observer status with the Organisation to:
24.1. not recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia;
24.2. intensify their efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the victims of the conflict, including:
24.2.1. the pledging and delivery of aid and assistance for immediate urgent needs and those of a more long-term nature;
24.2.2. assistance covering basic needs, accommodation, health care, including care for trauma victims, support for the livelihood of victims, etc.;
24.2.3. particular support for vulnerable persons, including children, the aged and the sick and infirm;
24.3. maintain a focus on the needs of the 222 000 persons who remain displaced from the previous conflict over Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as those displaced from earlier conflicts in the North Caucasus;
24.4. formally condemn the ethnic cleansing taking place in the areas under the effective control of Russian forces and of the de facto authorities in South Ossetia;
24.5. ensure, to the extent that they are also members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), that the NATO assessment of the military build-up with respect to this war be made public;
24.6. make available to the independent international investigation into the circumstances surrounding the outbreak of the war all relevant satellite data they may have in their possession.
25. Because of the human rights violations and the humanitarian challenges resulting from the conflict between Russia and Georgia, the Assembly invites its Bureau to ensure that the Assembly remains seized of the matter through its competent committees and to step up its monitoring procedure with respect to both countries.
26. The Assembly resolves to convene an international conference to reflect on establishing and improving existing early warning systems to prevent the escalation of conflicts into fully fledged wars.
27. The Assembly invites the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to consider the establishment, possibly in consultation with the Commissioner for Human Rights, of a special human rights field mission of the Council of Europe with unhindered access to all areas affected by the war.
28. The Assembly also invites the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to consider availing himself of his powers under Article 52 of the European Convention on Human Rights in particular for the purpose of asking the Russian authorities to provide information on how the rights guaranteed by the Convention in zones under their de facto jurisdiction are effectively secured, and the Georgian authorities to provide explanations as to how it was deemed necessary to declare a state of war without it being necessary to make a derogation under Article 15 of the Convention.
29. The Assembly invites the Council of Europe Development Bank to consider action with a view to assisting refugees and displaced persons, as well as contributing to reconstruction in the areas affected, including South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
30. The Assembly is convinced that the establishment of dialogue is the best way forward for the solution of any conflict and for fostering stability in the long term. This holds true for this particular conflict. However, dialogue requires political will on both sides and must be backed up by concrete action. Therefore, some basic conditions for the dialogue have to be established and observed. Full implementation of the peace plan, including withdrawal of the Russian troops to positions ex ante the conflict is essential. In addition, full deployment of European Union and OSCE observers into South Ossetia and Abkhazia and withdrawal by Russia of the recognition of independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, would be minimum conditions for a meaningful dialogue.
31. In order to promote such dialogue, the Assembly will consider setting up under its aegis a special Parliamentary Assembly ad hoc committee, in which both Georgian and Russian parliamentarians will participate, to serve as a forum for discussing their differences and proposing ways to put an end to the current impasse and look towards the future.
32. With a view to minimising the risk of further outbreaks of violence involving its member states, the Assembly should play a role in the field of conflict prevention and resolution, as without peace there cannot be genuine respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law. It decides, therefore, to ask its Bureau to study mechanisms by which it could conduct parliamentary diplomacy in the context of frozen conflicts in Europe and other situations liable to undermine peace and stability.
http://assembly.coe.int/Mainf.asp?link=/Documents/AdoptedText/ta08/ERES1633.htm
I always find it interesting that Russians fall back on such arguments.
The simple fact of the matter is that the Georgians are the indigenous population of South Ossetia/Samachablo, and have been been evicted/killed en mass as part of a sustained policy of ethnic cleansing on the part of Russian sponsored terrorists.
Russia only has an interest in South Ossetia for two reasons, the first is the Roki tunnel, which is a trategic gateway to the south Caucasus, and the second is to attempt to destabilize and control Georgia.
About conflict in august 2008
Georgia tried to impose a military solution to the conflict in South Ossetia and forced to attach it to yourself.
On the night of 7 to 8 August 2008, Georgia invaded South Ossetia, which was at that moment in the status of the breakaway republic. Georgian artillery, including rocket and began an intensive bombardment of Tskhinvali and the surrounding area around 24:00 Moscow time on August 7, 2008, after a few hours followed the storming of the city by Georgian armored vehicles and infantry.
Morning of August 8, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in a televised speech accusing Russia of bombing Georgian territory. Georgia has been declared a general mobilization.
On the same day, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the actions of Georgian troops “an act of aggression against Russian peacekeepers and civilians, saying it would not allow” death with impunity “of Russian citizens.
Approximately 15 hours of August 8 media reported that South Ossetia became a Russian armored vehicles.
And only the morning of 9 August, the Assistant Army Commander Igor Konashenkov reported that units of the 58 th Army arrived at the outskirts of Tskhinvali.
Any direct confrontation of Russian troops from Georgian is not happening. Georgians, as it were ordered to retreat. They abandoned their positions leaving equipment and weapons. After the conflict in Sochi often see the trophy Hamers military purposes, such is not for sale. Georgians retreating as if deliberately wanted the Russian troops pursued them and entered their territory.
Well, that explains why the Russians were shelling and bombing Tshkinvali for 3 days…..
Try again Sergey.
We are big wrong! Tskhinvali was bombed Georgian troops!
If you do not believe, come to Tskhinvali, and ask the locals.
P.S. And where did you get the information that was bombed is Russian?
5. However, the initiation of shelling of Tskhinvali without warning by the Georgian military, on 7 August 2008, marked a new level of escalation, namely that of open and fully fledged warfare. The use of heavy weapons and cluster munitions, creating grave risks for civilians, constituted a disproportionate use of armed force by Georgia, albeit within its own territory, and as such a violation of international humanitarian law and Georgia’s commitment to resolve the conflict peacefully.
What if the state is home to over 17 years of de facto independence, but do not want big brother, it is not considered to be independent?
Well Sergey, unlike the Russians and Ossetians the Georgians did not DELIBERATELY target civilians.
Did you miss the complete destruction of Georgian villages that are older than Russia?
As for “P.S. And where did you get the information that was bombed is Russian?”
Try thinking.
Georgian forces captured Tshkinvali from the Separatists on the morning of the 8th of August, they did not leave until the 10th of August (3 days).
In this time the Russian military shelled and bombed Tshkinvali indiscriminately (just as they did to Grozny one might add…)
Try reading some of Yulia Latynina’s articles…
” So, who destroyed the town of Tskhinvali?
Hodge-podge-2
In the morning of 8th of August, Russian TV channels announced that fascist Georgia treacherously invaded a small nation of South Ossetia, and its main town of Tskhinvali had been razed to the ground by “Grad” missiles.
Russian public also learnt that Georgian fighter jets attacked a humanitarian convoy bringing aid to Tskhinvali in the night of 7th to 8th of August. Russian TV news channel Vesti also told us that Georgian SU-25 warplane bombing Tskhinvali civilians was shot down by South Ossetian defenders, and that its pilot was “torn apart” by furious local residents.
3 pm that very day, we learnt that Russia decided to help South Ossetia, and that columns of Russian tanks are moving toward Rocky tunnel (on the Russia’s border with Georgia, – GT). In two hours, we were told that Tskhinvali is liberated. For next two days, South Ossetian press office kept repeating that although Tskhinvali is freed from Georgians, the town is still under fire from nearby hills, while Georgian snipers are killing civilians in the streets.
While official Russian television keeps telling us about crimes committed by Georgian monsters, more and more questions are raised, because, – just like in Orwell’s “1984” novel, – what was said just a day before does not tie to what is said today, and even preceding paragraph contradicts with the next.
Let’s examine, e.g., this story about humanitarian convoy, attacked by Georgian fighter jets during the night of 7th to 8th of August. What idiot would send humanitarian aid by the road which was likely to be crowded by refugees and vehicles? And then again, why send humanitarian aid to South Ossetia if, according to South Ossetian authorities, an entire civilian population of South Ossetia was already evacuated three days earlier? And if this was a military convoy, – not a humanitarian one, – then would that mean it left Russia before this war even started?
Maybe there was no such convoy? Maybe, Georgians were falsely accused of bombing it? No, there were witnesses who saw it. It was spotted in Java (town half way to Tskhinvali from Russo-Georgian border, GT) early morning, at 5 am, by Russian TV “Zvezda” reporter Naziullin. He described what he saw as “the column of Russian tanks and armored vehicles just passed near us”.
Or, let’s take that Georgian warplane bombing Tskhinvali in the morning of 8th of August. Worth noting that Russian public at that time did not know that Russian air force was already bombing Georgian villages and town of Gori. We were only told about Georgian warplane that bombed Tskhinvali. However, any intelligent person would wonder why Georgians bombed Tskhinvali after it was already taken by them? Were they bombing their own tanks?
It would be enough to show what’s left of that Georgian warplane, any documents proving the identity of Georgian pilot. None were available. And, by the way, the pilot who was shot down over Tskhinvali in the morning of 8th of August was buried in Russian town of Buddyonovsk…
Mismatches mounted further. Russian reporters who were in Tskhinvali that night of 7th to 8th of August made it clear that Russian troops did not liberate Tskhinvali on 8th of August.
Even worse, – Russian troops did not make it on 9th of August either. The Russian column that attempted to break through to Tskhinvali that day of 9th of August was led by the head of entire 58th Russian army, General Khrulyov himself. We know what happened to this column very well, as it was accompanied by TV Vesti crew, as well as by the newspaper reporters of Moskovsky Komsomolets (Vladimir Sokirko) and Komsomolskaya Pravda (Alexandre Kots).
“Shot at point blank”, describes Vladimir Sokirko an annihilation of this column, “rocket-propelled grenade hit an armored vehicle at the front of the column, and column grinded to halt under torrent of fire. I saw machine gun pointed at me, from some six meters or so, and young girl in NATO uniform who was aiming it at me. She was about 25-year old, this Georgian girl, not very tall, rather attractive, one may say pretty. Uniform suited her well. This crossed my mind in a split of a second. I shouted “I am a reporter!” She lowered her machine gun, and that very instant was killed by machine gun volley that cut her in two”.
TV news Vesti is announcing liberation of Tskhinvali, while head of 58th Russian army is sitting among corpses of his soldiers.
“Entire battalion is destroyed” he roars, pounding the soil with his fists, “Why?! Why?! I told them!”
Why am I describing all this in such detail?
Because, as we can see, Georgians controlled Tskhinvali on 8th of August, and on 9th of August. So, who was shelling this town then, full of Georgian tanks? And what happened to another column which was believed to have taken Tskhinvali a day before, on 8th of August?
“I will hang Saakashvili by his balls”, allegedly told Putin to Nikolas Sarkozy on 11th of August, when Russian tanks were already in Gori. “Bush hanged Saddam, why can’t I?”
I am sorry, – what for? Because Saakashvili’s troops attacked the convoy of Russian tanks and armored vehicles that mysteriously emerged in the middle of South Ossetia even before Georgians took Tskhinvali? Because our troops could not take Tskhinvali during next two days, although they entered South Ossetia before Georgians? Because they were destroying Tskhinvali during these two days and were telling us all this time that it was Georgians who did it? Because the head of 58th Russian army that was sent by Kremlin to fight for Kokoyti’s regime (South Ossetian president, GT) is sitting on the burnt soil with his fists clenched?
Well, on second thought, – yes. This is exactly the situation when you wish to see your enemy hung by his balls. ”
Or this
” Lies
Both sides lie, – heard I many times about Russia and Georgia in this war.
Georgian deputy minister of interior, Ekaterine Zguladze, showed during one of the press conferences two thousand fake Russian passports appropriated by Georgians in Tskhinvali. These passports had names and photos, but were not signed by their assumed holders. I.e., these passports were for those people who left South Ossetia, and did not even know that local authorities issued Russian passports for them.
In response, General Nogovitsin demonstrated a passport of an American instructor Michael Lee White, whose “presence on the battlefield alongside with Georgian special forces is an established fact”. Shortly after, it has been discovered that Michael Lee White is an English language teacher in Guangzhou, China, who lost his passport during Moscow-New York flight in 2005, and whose passport, thereof, was voided.
Here is another lie, which is a key to this war. From the very beginning, all Russian TV channels accused Georgians of genocide.
“Georgians and foreign mercenaries had an order to burn everything and to kill everyone who is young enough to produce offspring”, says the head of Ossetian information agency, Inal Plyev, “In one of the villages, Georgians locked up seven young Ossetian girls in one of the houses, and then fired at it from a tank”.
“Our colleagues witnessed an entire family decapitated, month-and-a-half old babies burnt alive… Wounded people, including our peacekeepers, were finished off, some were burnt while they were still alive”, writes Russian army TV channel Zvezda reporter, Alguis Mikulskis.
Another story: Mairbeg Tskhovrebov was trying to flee Tskhinvali in his car in the morning of 8th of August, with his son Aslan and his daughter Dina. At the corner of Isaac Street and Heroes street, his car was fired at by a Georgian tank. “Dina was still alive, when Georgian soldiers approached the car, pulled her and her father’s and little brother’s corpses, and decimated all three with machine guns. Then they piled their bodies and burnt them. All this was witnessed by residents of nearby apartment buildings, who were hiding in the basements. Trembling, fearful, they covered their kids’ mouths… They were afraid for their lives”, wrote Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper on 11th of August.
Nevertheless, neither Human Right Watch organization, nor even the official South Ossetian unit in charge of collecting war crimes testimonies could produce any evidence of these crimes. Seven young Ossetian women slain in basement, decapitated families, peacekeepers burnt alive, – all disappeared without a trace.
On the other hand, residents hiding in the basement of the nearby apartment block at the corner of Isaac street and Heroes street describe the death of Mairbeg Tskhovrebov and his two kids somewhat differently from the newspaper version: “There was a big explosion that morning next to the building where we were hiding”, testified Zhanna Tskhovrebova to the official South Ossetian unit in charge of collecting war crimes evidence, “the family that was trying to flee came under fire and was burnt alive”. (Who was bombing Tskhinvali at that time with Georgian troops in it? GT)
What is even more peculiar, no single name of victims of Georgian genocide was published by the head of the prosecutor’s office Alexander Bastyrkin, who was in charge of investigating these crimes. He, nonetheless, miraculously brought back to life 1,866 people by announcing 134 civilian casualties (instead of 2,000 announced earlier by South Ossetian president Kokoyti).
While the evidence of atrocities committed by Georgians was fabricated, ethnic cleansing of Georgian villages by South Ossetian militia is a fact. It is easy to prove it, – no need even to present its profuse evidence (including daily satellite images clearly showing destruction of Georgian villages after Georgian troops left South Ossetia, – GT). South Ossetian president Kokoyti said it himself: “We razed everything to the ground there”.
And this is the key to this whole story. If Nazis tell you that Jews drink the blood of Christian children, while Jews are telling you about Buchenwald, the truth is NOT somewhere in between. The truth is that the story about Christian blood sucking Jews was used to justify Buchenwald.
It was also the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union, when one of the puppet regimes (of South Ossetia, – GT) incapable of defending itself, was robbing, looting, and killing behind the lines of advancing Russian troops.
Someone must have misled the Kremlin: great nations do not rise from their knees with a help of marauders (an expression of “Russia rising from its knees” has been increasingly popular in Russia in recent years, GT). ”
http://russiangeorgianwar.blogspot.com/2009/02/julia-latynina-articles-on-august-war.html
Different interpretations of the war
Georgian Version
Progress in fighting in the treatment of the Georgian media.
In the first hours of the war the Georgian government to justify its actions by saying that “separatists have carried out the attack on Tskhinvali, the village adjacent to the” making it in response to a unilateral ceasefire by Georgia. It was suggested that the massive intentional bombing of civilians and peacekeepers that occurred in the last hours of 7 August 2008, it was also pointed out that “through the Roki tunnel in the Russian-Georgian border crossing hundreds of armed men and military equipment.” In a related statement, issued on August 8 at 2 am on site Civil.ge, there are calls for the South Ossetian armed groups to cease hostilities, but there are no appeals to Russia [121].
August 8 Yakobashvili urged Russia to intervene in the conflict as a “true peacemaker.” [122]
August 8 commander of Georgian peacekeepers Mamuka Kurashvili called Georgia’s actions in South Ossetia “operation targeting Tskhinvali Region of the constitutional order.” [123] [124] Later, in October 2008, in proceedings for the Study of the August events in Georgia’s parliament declares Kurashvili that his statement was impulsive and not authorized by the highest political leadership of Georgia. The Secretary of the NSC load of scrap at the same time said that the essence of the statement was “not correct”, and he was reprimanded Kurashvili [125].
Georgian State Minister for Reintegration Temur Yakobashvili explained that “the purpose of the Georgian leadership is not to take the city. In Tbilisi, just want to put a point on the criminal regime, to no one threaten our cities, citizens and infrastructure. “[126] The Georgian side stated that the actions of the Georgian army in South Ossetia was a response to the violation of the ceasefire. [127]
9 August the Georgian parliament unanimously approved the decree of President Mikheil Saakashvili to declare martial law and total mobilization period of 15 days. The text of the decree of martial law was justified by the need to “prevent the destabilization in the region, armed attacks against civilians and acts of violence, to protect human rights and freedoms.” [128]
August 22 Georgian State Minister for Reintegration Temur Yakobashvili told the Ukrainian news agency UNIAN “:” … the decision to attack Tskhinvali had been taken only when a column of Russian military technology started to enter South Ossetia. The stories that we’re from Grad launchers, attacked Tskhinvali – a lie. Tskhinvali was bombed Russian after we took him to four and a half hours. We bombed the surrounding heights, including the use of aircraft and “Grad”. I stress, not settlements. “[129]
September 5, Deputy Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze told the diplomatic correspondent of Interfax Xenia Baigarova said that “from 1 to August 7, heavy artillery, the so-called South Ossetian forces under the leadership of the Russian military razed all Georgian villages adjacent to the zone of conflict” [ 130]. A more complete Georgian version is presented in the application for review of the conflict in the Hague trial [131] [132].
According to official statements by the Georgian side, Russian peacekeeping forces remaining in Georgian territory after signing the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan, “really represented the occupying forces, the main purpose of which was not the solution to the conflict, and the appropriation of Georgian territories” [133].
November 5, 2008 at an official press conference, held under the auspices of NATO in Riga, the President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili introduced its own version of the war, on which this war is the aggression of Russia against Georgia, which began from the territory of Ukraine. According to this version, the beginning of the conflict should take out the ships of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia “with full arms” from Sebastopol to the coast of Georgia, which occurred at least 6 days before the first shots at the administrative border with South Ossetia. According to Saakashvili, Ukrainian President Yushchenko issued a decree tried to stop the Black Sea fleet, but Russia has ignored it. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [134] [13] [135]. This version is disputed by Ukrainian and Russian media, pointing out that Yushchenko’s decree appeared only on 13 August, ie 5 days after the start of the war, and after Russian President Medvedev has officially announced the termination of military operations. [8] [9] [10]
Also in November 2008, Saakashvili said that Russia did not conquer all of Georgia due to the fact that he understands the readiness of the Armed Forces of Georgia to provide it with resistance. “The Georgian army for the first time since World War II forced to flee from the battlefield of the Russian generals” – said the Georgian president. [136] At the same time he is convinced that Georgia’s army fought against the 95% of the militancy of the [137] The Russian Armed Forces, “shot down 17-19 (Russian) aircraft. 58-I the Russian army was actually burned 4-th (Georgia) brigade. Overall, very pleased with the actions of Saakashvili, the Georgian armed forces. “The Georgian army has an approximate resistance of the monster – a large army of the country”, – said the Georgian president. However, he said, “when the 58 th army was defeated, Russia has leveraged land and air forces. They fired more than half the stock of its Iskander. “[138] The Georgian president believes that the decision of the fighting in South Ossetia was imminent [137]:
This decision was unavoidable due to two main reasons: 1. We learned that hundreds of Russian army tanks, heavy equipment, artillery pieces and thousands of soldiers were summed up by the Georgian-Russian border, near the Roki tunnel, and we began to receive compelling, confirmed by intelligence sources, and you see them, they began to move and cross the state border of Georgia. This fact later confirmed the world’s media, published telephone interceptions, studied a lot of material obtained from the Internet, from public sources, and from intelligence sources, although I must say that information is publicly available sources such as compelling as the details of intelligence information, can sometimes be more convincing. And at this time making an incursion into Georgia military forces have not been able to refute or deny it and the Russian Federation itself.
May 26, 2009, Saakashvili said Russian forces plan to take control of not only Georgia but the entire Black Sea-Caspian region, but through valor Georgian troops did not happen. [139]
Criticism
The European Union Commission of Inquiry into the war in a report published on Sept. 30, 2009, concludes that the war began, Georgia, as Russia steps leading up to this, many months confined to evoke action [140] [141].
Statement by State Minister for Reintegration Temur Yakobashvili August 22, no confirmed reports of world news agencies. The first reports of Russian military intervention there were only around noon on August 8. [126] It is also worth noting that none of the Georgian leadership is not declared on August 8 that the beginning of the war – a consequence of introduction of Russian troops. On the contrary, made statements about “restoring constitutional order” and the desire to “put an end to the criminal regime.” [126]
According to the German magazine Spiegel, the morning of Aug. 7 Georgian side has focused on the border with South Ossetia, about 12 thousand and seventy-five tanks outside Gori. The magazine wrote that according to Western intelligence agencies “the Russian army began to fire not earlier than 7:30 am on Aug. 8,” “Russian troops began their march from North Ossetia through the Roki Tunnel Minimum 11 am. This sequence of events suggests that Moscow has not undertaken the aggression, but merely acted in response. ” According to Colonel General Staff of Germany, Wolfgang Richter, who was at that time in Tbilisi, the Georgians to some extent, “lied” about troop movements. ” According to Richter, he could not find evidence of Saakashvili’s statement that “Russian moved to the Roki Tunnel before, as Tbilisi ordered the attack.” [142]
October 12 the French Le Monde, commenting on allegations by the Georgian side that the shelling and the attack on Tskhinvali happened after “hundreds of Russian tanks have moved through the Roki tunnel linking South Ossetia with Russia to launch an invasion”, said: “This point view is problematic because it contradicts the public statements of the Georgian side was doing during the events. ” The newspaper wrote that before August 8, one has not publicly spoken about the Russian tanks and quotes the ambassador of France to Georgia Eric Fournier: “The Georgians did not call its European allies, saying: Russian attack us.” [143]
Our Party Member of European Parliament said that Saakashvili is not to make independent decisions, and Georgia, in fact, a protectorate of the United States. According to him, over the last 3-4 years against Russia is an information war. J. Chiesa pointed out that the conflict in South Ossetia, Russia is not the aggressor, she only had to come to the aid and parry the blow. He also considers it a legitimate recognition of the sovereignty of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as “recognition of the independence of these republics was only after an attack by the Georgian side.” “All this time, Moscow’s policies differed caution and restraint. For a long time Russia did not recognize the sovereignty of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. And she did not plan to blow up the situation “, – added J. Chiesa. In his view, a significant role in this situation, played the USA. “Little Georgia, is essentially a protectorate of the United States … it is no secret that Georgian officials receive an official salary from the U.S. State Department. It is obvious that just one will not give money. All this – the payment for services rendered by President Saakashvili and his administration … American advisers to the Georgian army – this is not improvisation. Given the multifaceted political moments, it is safe to say that is systematic, purposeful work. Both civil and military direction. Saakashvili did not take independent decisions. Georgia alone would not last, and 10 minutes – without the support of U.S. dollars. States are making huge cash injection into the economy. “, – Explained J. Chiesa. [144]
The South Ossetian side all the allegations of the Georgian side calls “cynical lies” and accused senior Georgian officials, including the president, the organization of war crimes. South Ossetian officials are hoping to see the Georgian leadership on the dock. [145]
South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity, November 10, 2008 said: “Today, in terms of the information received and the Western media, and through them have already communicated to the international community, says that comes already broken in that the information counter, because that the lie is the dirt, which tried in the beginning to pour on the Ossetian side, on the Russian side. Today is West increasingly comes to understanding who and how unleashed this aggression, who imposed a Nazi … Therefore, if we are with you again, consolidating all our efforts to break through and finally dispel all these myths about alleged Georgian danger and aggression on the part of South Ossetia from Russia, the more the truth will know the people, the international community, the less it will prevent mistakes. Such hot spots as South Ossetia, there will be no … “[146]
November 10, 2008 American Journal «BusinessWeek» wrote [147] [148]:
so far no independent source of Saakashvili’s statement did not confirm that on August 7, Russian troops first crossed the border, and only after Georgia launched an offensive. Particularly strange is that during the conflict the Georgian authorities about that did not mention, but to his actions called “restoration of constitutional order” in South Ossetia. In addition, Georgia has announced that it launched an offensive in response to the firing of four Georgian villages of the previous evening. However, another independent source – this time the newspaper The New York Times – refers to evidence of independent Western observers, also disproves the official Georgian version. Observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe say: they have not found any evidence confirming that these villages are really survived the attack. Instead, they accused Georgia of “totally indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks,” consists of intensive shelling of civilian targets with artillery shells and rockets.
The U.S. newspaper The Boston Globe in November 2008 wrote about the reports made by observers under the auspices of the OSCE: “Those observers who were in the breakaway South Ossetia on the night of 7 to 8 August, reported that they saw the Georgian artillery and rocket launchers contracts to the border of South Ossetia at 3 pm on August 7, long before the first Russian convoy entered the enclave. They also witnessed the unprovoked shelling the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali, the evening of that day. Shells were falling on people hiding in their homes. Observers have not heard anything that affirms the Saakashvili’s statement that the Georgian shelling of Tskhinvali was a response to the shelling of Georgian villages. There is no reason to doubt the competence or integrity of OSCE observers. The inescapable conclusion is that Saakashvili started this war and lied about it. “[149]
December 20, 2008 British broadcaster BBC has led the opinion of the former Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Karkarashvili: “According to the former minister, claimed the Georgian military that the Georgian army waged on the territory of South Ossetia, only defensive actions are clearly contrary to the least and short-term, but consolidation in the Tskhinvali, the central grouping. And this at a time when it is, logically, should have been focusing on the direction of the Roki Tunnel, where, as asserted by the Georgian side continued to move manpower and equipment of the Russian army. “[150]
The position of the Government of South Ossetia
In South Ossetia’s interpretation, the war caused by Georgia’s aggression against South Ossetia, which occurred on the eve of the Olympic Games. South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity told [151] [151] [152] [153] [154]:
The code name for Blitzkrieg – “open field” – reveals the essence of Georgia’s plans – to ethnic cleansing, to turn into “open field” all of South Ossetia. The first day of full-scale military aggression of Georgia against South Ossetia was brought to our people made enormous sacrifices. Only an operation to enforce peace put an end to the senseless and brutal war that brought so much suffering to our people. The decision of the President of Russia for an operation to force the aggressor to peace was timely, courageous and the only true … South Ossetia will never forget and never forgive the crimes of Georgian fascism. The Georgian authorities have their senseless cruelty dug a bottomless bloody chasm between Georgia and South Ossetia.
8 August South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity said on numerous casualties among civilians in South Ossetia, accusing Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in the genocide of the Ossetian people [155]. In his interview with Kommersant Kokoity acknowledged instances of looting in Georgian villages. He also acknowledged the destruction of Georgian enclaves, used the phrase “We are there practically leveled everything”, and noted the impossibility of returning back the Georgians: “We do not intend to go there more for someone to run” [156]. Later, however, Kokoity said that all the refugees from South Ossetia, Georgians can return to the territory of South Ossetia. However, those who do not have citizenship of South Ossetia, will have to get him to renounce Georgian citizenship. [157] It is about those who took no part in hostilities against South Ossetia, was not involved in the genocide of the Ossetian people. [158] With regard to the inhabitants of some gruzinonaselennyh villages in South Ossetia, which were destroyed during the conflict, South Ossetian authorities are going to hold a particularly thorough personal inspection before they allow them to go back, because South Ossetia’s prosecutor’s office believes that the residents of these villages have participated in armed formations and participated in the genocide of the Ossetian people. [159]
Russian Version
Tracing the Georgian educational map of 2006 (Exhibition of the Caucasus. Five days in August in the Central Museum of Armed Forces, Moscow, 2008).
August 9 assistant commander of ground forces RF I. Konashenkov said units 58 th Army, arrived at the outskirts of Tskhinvali, “have begun to prepare the operation to enforce peace in the area of responsibility of peacekeepers.” [160]
BTW, with regards to ” What if the state is home to over 17 years of de facto independence, but do not want big brother, it is not considered to be independent? ”
So you support Chechen, Ingush, and Daghesh independence?
After all, the Chechens had several years of de facto independence before Russia brutally invaded them (again).
Do you realise the main reason Putin hates Georgia is that Georgia wants to be truly independent, and the cause of much of Putins anger at the current government of Georgia stems from tha fact that under the previous president, Russia appointed the Georgian misiters of defense and the interior.
The current government put a stop to this in 2004, and Russian imperialists have never forgiven them.
We can have a long discussion.
Principle one: divide and conquer. Proxy conveniently determine the fate of others. The reason: the need to split the entire former Soviet Union into hostile country, and used as raw materials appendage.
Scheme alone.
Think.
Ordinary people are the same people just want peace and the right to exist.
I agree entirely.
However I do find the Russian government is the one doing most of the “divide and conquer”.
Not to mention ethnic cleansing.
So, it took you guys 10000 lines to figure out the obvious: divide-and-conquer is the dominant mode of foreign policy. Always has been, always will be.
Why do you think the Americans were so eager to divide the former Yugoslavia into as many warring pieces as possible, and to drive a wedge between Russia and Ukraine?
It seems that all the governments of all countries exist only for the circus. To have something to do to people. A true leader, whom nobody knows, playing their games.
Abkhazia
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia said, commenting on U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the United States has used the policy of double standards, ignoring the historical facts and justify an aggressive policy of Georgia
Asked about the Kosovo precedent, Mrs. Clinton said that “since the beginning of the collapse of Yugoslavia, Kosovo would gain independence, it considered that this region was included in Yugoslavia by force.” It thus, according to Foreign Minister, attempted to justify recognition of Kosovo “.
Hillary Clinton’s statement that “Georgia was a united country, and there was no such controversy, shows, according to Foreign Minister of Abkhazia, to disregard the U.S. historical facts and justification of the aggressive policy of Georgia.
“Mrs. Clinton in the search for fundamental differences between the situation in Kosovo and Abkhazia, stressed that there was” tension in Yugoslavia, which eventually resulted in ethnic cleansing against the Kosovo population. However, the U.S. had not condemned Georgia’s actions in South Ossetia in August 2008, which led to the extermination of the civilian population. Moreover, the United States continues to support Georgia, the aggressor country, which, despite an active lobby allies, and could not be justified in the eyes of the world community for their crimes in South Ossetia “, – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia Comments
“Saying that” the integrity of Georgia – in the interests of all parties, “Clinton Secretary of State does not consider the interests of the people of Abkhazia, which seeks to exercise its natural right to self-determination and safe existence, which is subjected to a direct threat to the prevailing aspirations of Georgia to resolve the issue by force,” – Foreign Minister said.
“Differences between Abkhazia and Kosovo, which Secretary of State said, more are in favor of Abkhazia than Kosovo, because the Abkhaz for thousands of years had their own state and were never part of Georgia”, – underlined in the foreign ministry comments.
“With the establishment of Soviet power in Abkhazia is equal subject of the USSR, whose status is recognized by the Georgian and the Soviet constitution. And even after the violent elimination of the independent status and downgrading it to a level of autonomy, Abkhazia, under the law of the USSR “On the basis of the issues connected with the release of the Federal Republic from the USSR” had the right to determine their own future, what actually was done at the All-Union referendum on March 17 1991, when most residents of the republic voted to remain within the USSR. Two weeks later, the Georgian population held a referendum and voted to secede from the USSR. Thus, it is absolutely clear that Abkhazia could not simultaneously be a part of another existing Soviet Union and declared the independence of Georgia. From this it follows that by the time the adoption of the UN, Georgia, she had no relation to Abkhazia and UN recognition of the territorial integrity of Georgia within the borders of the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic on 21 December 1991 is erroneous, “- said Foreign Minister.
“U.S. Secretary of State’s statement regarding the situation in Kosovo and Abkhazia shows how biased information about Abkhazia, held by the U.S. State Department. It is obvious that in its opinion, Clinton’s secretary of state is based only on the Georgian point of view on the Georgian-Abkhaz relations “, – said the Foreign Office Abkhazia.
“The people of Abkhazia, long before the collapse of the Soviet Union acted with a fair demand to restore the independent status of the republic, liquidated in 1931 by the will of Stalin. Today, the entire civilized world condemns the policy of the Stalinist period, but, nevertheless, the fact of forcible incorporation of Abkhazia into Georgia and has not received adequate evaluation. Encroachment upon the sovereign rights of Abkhazia was the most painful for the national identity of the Abkhaz people. Since 1931, throughout the Soviet period, the people of Abkhazia have several times collected rallies in protest against the discriminatory policies of Georgia. Abkhazia – the only people in the Soviet Union, which raised massive popular protests against the discriminatory policies of the Soviet leadership. Nevertheless, the voice of multiethnic people of Abkhazia was not heeded. Relations between Georgia and Abkhazia finally broke down after Georgia launched a bloody war and genocide against the people of Abkhazia “, – noted in the commentary.
“Attempts by some politicians to ignore all the historical and legal justification of Abkhaz statehood is a continuation of the policy of double standards and have no legal and historical reasons”, – said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia.
Now Sergey, the only “extermination of civillian population” was that perpetrated by the South Ossetians (with a great deal of help by Russia) against the ethnic Georgian population of South Ossetia.
Basically the same as when Russia helped the Apsua extermonate the Georgian population of Abkhazia, who made up around half the population, while Apsua made up only 17%…..
About 90 percent of the population of South Ossetia and 95 percent of the population of Abkhazia have Russian citizenship. But some residents of Abkhazia as Russian citizens to participate even in the mayoral election of Sochi.
Neither I nor the majority of the population of Russia is no negative sen to Georgians as nationality. We are only against the regime of Saakashvili, who delivered big brother, who actually carries out ethnic cleansing.
And Georgians are very good people in Sochi there are many Georgians and other Caucasian peoples. Many Russian regard them as a brotherly people.
Georgian media.
I wonder what was in the western media about the provocation of the Georgian TV Company “Imedi”. In its report said about Russia attacking Georgia, bombing airports, ports and cities. This is to the people panicked, many became ill and several people with a bad heart, even died. And that was about it in the west?
Andrew,
Your boss should give you a raise for devoting your entire workday to flooding this blog and making it unreadable.
Now RTR, you have been posting hundreds of infantile posts, by the way, it’s pretty early in the morning in California……
Anyway it’s a holiday today chump…..
Here’s read about the conflict. In order not to clutter the site will give the link. Check out this resource for learning more of the facts of this war.
translate.google.ru/translate?hl=ru&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.russia-vs-georgia.com%2Ffour%2F176-2009-11-16-11-49-37