What Is Really Going On In Georgia?

The current situation between Russia and Georgia is a tragedy. So far Western media has portrayed the Russians as the total aggressor in the region, but it isn’t that simple. There have been atrocities on both sides. Russia has been the instigator of violence with Georgian troops in the separatist regions, but Georgian troops also have been committing atrocities themselves. The response from the U.S. has been lame at best. Tough talk without teeth is pointless.

It seems strange that the Western media has almost forgotten what started the current war. If you listen to the media it would appear to be only Russia who is to blame. Any casual observer is left with many questions. Is this the old Cold War Russia attempting to force satellite countries back into a type of Union? Is this about oil as some have suggested? Is this just a border war? Is it Georgia’s proposed entry into NATO? The conflicts roots are complex at best.

Two small autonomous regions of Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, have been trying to obtain their independence from Georgia in wars after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Russia has had peacekeepers in both regions under a Commonwealth of Independent States mandate since then. A large amount of the citizens of the two regions are Russian loyalist holding Russian passports, and for years Russia has been accused of sponsoring the separatist movement in the region. No nation has formally recognized either regions independance claims, and they are still a part of Georgian territory.

The current conflict, now called the South Ossetia War, started on August 7, 2008, after a ceasefire agreement between Georgia and South Ossetia broke down, and Georgia sent a large military force into South Ossetia which reached the capital Tskhinvali. The head of Georgian forces in South Ossetia said the operation was intended to “restore constitutional order” to the region, while the government said the troops had been sent to end the barrage of shelling of Georgian civilians by South Ossetian separatists. Russia claimed the artillery shelling was from Georgian forces and that 15 civilians and a handful of Russian peacekeepers were killed in the shelling.

Russia responded the next day by pouring troops and armor into South Ossetia, quickly driving the Georgian troops out of Tskhinvali and taking complete control of the region. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused Georgia of committing “genocide” while President Dmitry Medvedev stated that his country’s goal was “to force the Georgian side to peace”, and that he “must protect lives and the dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are,” a reference to the estimated 50%-90% of civilians in South Ossetia who hold Russian passports. The passports were offered by Moscow to the citizens of the region a few years ago and most accepted them.

Russia insist they are not the aggressor, instead they claim to be peacekeepers. Georgia on the other side has claimed the Russian separatist are the ones who shelled the city of Tskhinvali after the cease fire on the 7th was signed to give Russia the excuse to invade the region and begin the destabilization of Georgia.

On the 9th a second front was opened up in Abkhazia’s Kodori Valley region by the mainly Georgian loyalist and Abkhazia military but were quickly repelled by Russian Spatsnaz (paratroopers) who flooded the region.

The attacks continue on both sides. Georgian troops, South Ossetia separatist, Abkhazia military and the Russian military are continuing the fighting all over the northern area of Georgia. Without a doubt the amount of force Russia is using against the citizens of Georgia is unacceptable. Human Rights Watch is on the ground in Georgia and in a recent article they say they have proof that Russians are using cluster bombs in civilian areas.

Condoleezza Rice is in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, to try and get the Georgian President to accept a EU proposed cease fire deal. The deal gives concessions to Russia to allow them to keep troops in the South Ossetia region which is one of the main sticking points. Here is a summary of the six point deal:

1. No recourse to the use of force.
2. Definitive cessation of hostilities.
3. Free access to humanitarian aid (addition rejected: and to allow the return of refugees).
4. Georgian military forces must withdraw to their normal bases of encampment.
5. Russian military forces must withdraw to the lines prior to the start of hostilities. While awaiting
an international mechanism, Russian peacekeeping forces will implement additional security
measures (addition rejected: six months).
6. Opening of international discussions on the modalities of lasting security in Abkhazia and South
Ossetia (addition rejected: based on the decisions of the U.N. and the O.S.C.E.).

- While writing I see that the Georgian president has accepted the cease fire, but not a peace deal. The Georgian president insist he will not accept any Russian troops on any Georgian soil.

Here are some videos and photos from different sources (These are only videos I found they do not represent the opinion of the Tampa Pirate):

LINKTV/MOSAIC/ALJAZEERA

Turkish reporters attacked in Georgia - Reuters

Ukraine says Russia must give 72 hour notice before deploying from Kiev - Reuters

Georgian reporter grazed by sniper fire.

Russia sending message to Georgia

Dutch reporter/cameraman killed in bomb blast

More about attacks in Gori

More on Russians attacking Gori

Reference Links:
BBC
2008 South Ossetia Wiki
Bloomberg.com

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