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THE ABKHAZIA CONFLICT BLOG

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EurasiaNet: GEORGIA: TBILISI CHARGES MOSCOW WITH "PIRACY" (December 8, 2009)

Georgia is condemning Russia’s plans to send three patrol boats to guard maritime traffic off southern Abkhazia’s Black Sea coast. Link

Balita: Belarus to consider recognition of Abkhazia, South Ossetia (November 6, 2009)

The Belarusian parliament is to consider next week the recognition of the two former Georgian republics, the head of the presidential administration said. Link

RIANOVOSTI: S.Ossetia, Abkhazia to ask Ecuador to recognize independence (November 2, 2009)

South Ossetia and Abkhazia will officially ask Ecuador to recognize their independence, the former Georgian republics' foreign ministers told RIA Novosti on Friday. Link

The Chief: Venezuela recognizes Georgian separatist regions as independent, a boost to Moscow (September 10, 2009)

Barvikha, Russia – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday said his country has recognized the independence of Georgian separatist regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia, a boost to Russia which had been almost alone in recognizing them. “We will soon begin actions to establish diplomatic relations with these countries,” Chavez said at the opening of a meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev at his residence outside Moscow. Link

China Daily: Putin pledges firm support for South Ossetia, Abkhazia (August 27, 2009)

Russia will continue to support Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and will not allow a repeat of last Augusts' hostilities, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday. "Russia intends to continue giving total political and economic support both to South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia will not permit any reprisal attempts or any repeat of military ventures in this region," Putin said after meeting with South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity. Link

BBC NEWS: Russians to boost Abkhazia bases (August 12, 2009)

Vladimir Putin's announcement came as he arrived in Abkhazia for talks. He said Russia was committed to defending and financing the small strip of land in Georgia's north-west corner. Moscow officially recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia following the war a year ago between Russia and Georgia. Link

Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty: Georgia's Breakaway Abkhazia Plans Military Maneuvers (August 10, 2009)

Military officials in Georgia's breakaway Republic of Abkhazia have announced plans to start command-staff exercises on August 11, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports. Link

Bloomberg: Georgia Defends Government's Handling of Russia War (August 6, 2009)

Georgia's response to the "Russian aggression" was "proportionate, necessary and wholly justified," the ministry said in a report released today in the capital Tbilisi. The government had "no choice but to counter what was rapidly becoming an invasion with aims that far exceeded the dispute over two Georgian territories." Link

Guardian.co.uk: Georgia is rebounding and resolute (August 6, 2009)

Russian provocations have not stopped; snipers in Russian-controlled areas have killed 28 Georgian policemen since the ceasefire. In recent days, Moscow has engaged in a series of provocative acts and statements, echoing its prelude to last year's invasion. Even as the world watches, Moscow has vetoed monitoring missions. Despite all this, and contrary to some expectations, Georgia has rebounded. Link

Associated Press: Obama, Medvedev discuss Georgia, arms control (August 4, 2009)

Only Russia and Nicaragua recognize the independence of South Ossetia, and President Barack Obama said during a recent Moscow summit that Georgia's territorial integrity must be respected. Link

Arab News: A year after: The South Ossetian war (August 4, 2009)

A year ago this week, Georgia attacked Russia. It was like Jamaica attacking the United States. It was such a foolish and foredoomed act that at first most people believed the Georgian propaganda blaming it all on the Russians. Surely Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili wouldn't do something so utterly stupid. But he did - and he lost, of course. Link

ChinaView.cn: Georgian president hails Minsk's stance on Abkhazia, South Ossetia (July 24, 2009)

President Mikhail Saakashvili on Friday welcomed an advisory from Belarus for its citizens to enter Georgia's two breakaway regions via Georgia rather than through Russia. Link

Russian official visits breakaway Abkhazia (July 24, 2009)

Having viewed the military base in Gudauta, Stepashin said that Russia would begin to construct a new military base there after signing a relevant agreement with the separatists. Link

Belarus insists visitors to Abkhazia & South Ossetia observe Georgian laws (July 23, 2009)

The Georgian laws have imposed restrictions on free movement of foreign citizens in the territories of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and the adjacent territorial waters," Alexander Lukashevich, the deputy head of the main consular department of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, told journalists on Wednesday. Link

Biden pledges support for Georgia (July 22, 2009)

Mr Biden said he believed that the "ultimate determination of Russian democracy" would, in part, be judged by how the democratic countries around Russia developed. Link

Saakashvili Pledges to Ensure Smooth Power Transition in 2013 (July 20, 2009)

"The biggest response I can have [following the August war] is to organize a smooth transition of power not controlled by the Russians," the president said. "It would tell the neighbors - the people and not just the leaders - that Putin is no longer the main street bully in the neighborhood." Link

"Abkhazia Will Never Be a Part of Georgia" (July 17, 2009)

Abkhazia's dilapidated seaside capital, paint flaking from villas that were once the playgrounds of the Soviet elite, still bears the scars of 1990s fighting between Abkhaz separatists and Georgian forces. The torched shell of the former communist offices stands gathering weeds, and ruined homes are fenced off in the heart of Sukhumi. Link

Abkhazia welcomes Russian troops, help (July 17, 2009)

Despite signs that Russia plans to economically and militarily dominate Georgia's breakaway republic of Abkhazia, Abkhaz officials are hopeful Russian assistance will bring much-needed development. Link

Malkhaz Gulashvili: The US is embracing more balanced policies (July 13, 2009)

"The American leadership has clearly stated that the USA will take into consideration Russia's interests in CIS countries. This is a quite a serious statement. We can say that this statement could result in changes of Government in some countries and their replacement with a Government agreed by the US and Russia," says Malkhaz Gulashvili, President of The Georgian Times Media Holding. Link

Medvedev visits separatist-held Georgian region (July 13, 2009)

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday paid his first visit to South Ossetia, a region of Georgia that Moscow has recognized as independent following a brief war there last year. Link

Russia - Belarus: An odd couple (July 10, 2009)

The refusal of Belarus to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia points to a key factor behind its "marriage with Russia".  Both may favor a union, but for very different reasons. Link

Georgia denies sending spy drones to Abkhazia (July 7, 2009)

United Nations military observers stopped work in the region on June 16 when Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution to extend its mandate, and the monitors will leave by July 15. Russia said on Wednesday it did all it could to prolong the mission. Link

Stalin's downgrading of Abkhazia from Union Republic Status (July 7, 2009)

Among Stalin's many mistakes as a ruler, according to a reviewer of an emigre book on Stalin republished a few years ago in the Russian Federation, was the Soviet dictator’s decision to lower the status of Abkhazia from that of a union republic (SSR) like Ukraine or Kazakhstan to that of an autonomous republic (ASSR) like Tatarstan or Udmurtia. Link

EU to delay Georgia war report (July 4, 2009)

Russia's decision to hold large-scale military exercises in the Caucasus this week has also raised concern. The "Kavkaz 2009" war games involved over 8,000 Russian troops, reportedly including Russian units in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and neighboring Armenia. Link

Finishing the Job (July 2, 2009)

The main question today is whether Russia's leaders think they finished the job during the 2008 amputation, or whether they still hope to force out Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's democratically elected government. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told French President Nicolas Sarkozy last August that he intended to "hang Saakashvili by the balls," but in spite of domestic political troubles, the Georgian leader is still in power and all sensitive body parts appear intact. This salient fact, as well as Russian saber rattling including a major military exercise just north of the Georgian border, suggests to many analysts that a new war may be in the making. Link 

Radio Free Europe: Russia set for a long "continuation war" with Georgia (June 25, 2009)

At one level, Russia's termination of the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) was an opportunist bid in an incremental strategy of garnering international recognition for Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. The debate on June 15 that led up the Russian veto of a UN Security Council resolution needed to extend the UNOMIG mandate centered on one thing -- whether reference would be made to earlier Resolution 1808 reaffirming Georgia's territorial integrity. Link 

Reuters: Russia vetoes Western Plan for U.N. in Georgia (June 15, 2009)

Russia, at odds with Western powers over Georgia, vetoed on Monday a Western plan to extend the mandate of a U.N. mission in the former Soviet republic, in a death blow to the 130-strong observer force. The council voted on a U.S.- and European-sponsored draft resolution that would have extended for two weeks the mandate of a U.N. mission to the Georgian breakaway zone Abkhazia, which declared independence last year after Russia's brief war with Georgia. Link
 

Reuters: Russia blackmails Ban Ki-moon? (May 28, 2009)

Georgia lashed out at the United Nations and Russia on Wednesday, accusing Moscow of blackmailing U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to make a significant change in his latest report on the Caucasus state. Ban, on May 18, outlined the present security situation and recommendations for keeping the fragile peace between the former Soviet republic of Georgia and its two breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Link
 

Corboy: Another war in Georgia may be looming (May 22, 2009)

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˙ "If we look back at the war last August, from their point of view the

˙ Russians succeeded in achieving most of their objectives and they now

  control Georgian territory south of the Caucasian mountains. They have

  not paid a high price, having seen only the suspension of operation of the

  Russia-NATO council and meetings with the EU and some deterioration

  of their foreign investment income. All in all this was not a very big price

  to pay for achieving what they have. However many people in Moscow

  think that there is unfinished business. Georgia is still aspiring to NATO

  membership. Saakashvili is still in place, and they have still not achieved full control of Caspian energy supplies. So this is, in my opinion, a very serious time for the security of Georgia." Read more

Hulsman: Georgia should not be a NATO member (May 7, 2009)

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The EuropeanCourier.org interviewed Mr. John C. Hulsman, a foreign policy scholar at the

German Council on Foreign Relations and the co-author of The Godfather Doctrine: A Foreign

Policy Parable, which just hit the bookstores in the United States. We talked Georgia’s and

Ukraine’s inclusion into NATO, Obama’s plans to cancel the antimissile defense shield in Poland

and the Czech Republic, why Slobodan Milosevic died in the Hague and why Saddam Hussein

was hanged in Baghdad and whether George W. Bush was a good President for America.

Read more

Los Angeles Times: Tank batallion mutinies in Georgia (May 5, 2009)

There is some serious situation developing in Georgia, where a tank battalion mutinied against President Mikhail Saakashvili. The government sent troops and isolated the mutiny, but the negotiations with the rebels have been unsuccessful so far. Georgian officials are accusing Russia of sponsoring the rebellion in the eve of Georgia-NATO military exercises, which are to take place starting tomorrow. ˙Of course, Russia denies any involvement. Saakashvili says situation is under control. Link

Council of Europe: Russia does not comply with Council's resolutions (May 1, 2009)

Council of Europe criticized Russia for not complying with most of the demands of the Assembly’s Resolution 1647 (2009) adopted in respect to Russia’s and Georgia’s responsibilities to maintain stability and peace in Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions. The Council of Europe expressed its opinion that Russia has moved further away from the minimum conditions for meaningful dialogue and peaceful resolution of the territorial dispute. Link

AP: Protests in Tbilisi go into 3rd week (April 25, 2009)

A few thousand Georgians rallied outside the public television station and parliament building in the capital city Friday as daily protests against President Mikhail Saakashvili entered their third week. They continued to demand the resignation of Saakashvili, the Western-backed president who opponents accuse of concentrating power in his own hands and mishandling last year's war with neighboring Russia, which resulted in heavy damages and a loss of territory. Link

BBC News: Is it time to go for Saakashvili? (April 10, 2009)

Georgia's opposition has announced a "national disobedience campaign", warning it will block major roads. About 20,000 opponents of President Mikhail Saakashvili have gathered outside Georgia's parliament. One of their leaders, Kakha Kukava, said that "as of 6pm today (1400 GMT) the protesters will block main streets throughout Tbilisi", the capital. Link

EurasiaNet: Phillip H. Gordon as the new Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia (Mar 19)

The White House recently announced that it has named Philip H. Gordon, a scholar at the Brookings Institution, as assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasia. The position requires confirmation by the Senate. He would replace Daniel Fried, who has held the position since 2005. Gordon traveled to Georgia in 2005 and subsequently wrote a piece for YaleGlobal Online (co-authored with Derek Chollet) urging stronger US support for Tbilisi. In March 2008, he testified before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that Georgia and Ukraine should be given Membership Action Plan status at the upcoming NATO summit. "While Russian concerns should obviously be taken into account in any discussions of European security, Moscow cannot have a veto on the choices of neighboring democratic governments. NATO enlargement is not and has never been a threat to Russia, which should understand that it can benefit from democracy, stability, and prosperity in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus," he said. "Russia’s opposition, then, is perhaps a further reason to act on MAP for Georgia and Ukraine at Bucharest rather than waiting." Link

AP: Hagel and Hart recommend refusing NATO membership to Georgia (March 17, 2009)

The commission, headed by former Sens. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., and Gary Hart, D-Colo. (the leading foreign policy doves - one could say), recommended that the Obama Administration dropped its plans to offer NATO membership to Georgia and Ukraine. They also recommended to reconsider locating the U.S. national missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic Well, thank God for Joe Biden - the last hawk in the Administration! Link ˙

The Washington Post: Georgia, a Nation Stalled on the Road to Democracy (March 10, 2009)

The Washington Post writes that "Nearly four years after President George W. Bush hailed this former Soviet republic as a "beacon of liberty," declaring it a success story in his campaign to promote democracy around the world, Georgia is neither the authoritarian state it once was nor the democracy it promised to become. Instead, it seems stuck in between, a nation where people enjoy more freedom but where democratic institutions -- the news media, the judiciary, electoral systems, political parties -- are dysfunctional and fragile." Link

Pavel Felgenhauer: Russia's Coming War with Georgia (March 1, 2009)

While snow covers the Caucasian mountain passes until May, a renewed war with Georgia is impossible. There is hope in Moscow that the Georgian opposition may still overthrow Mikheil Saakashvili's regime or that the Obama administration will somehow remove him. However, if by May, Saakashvili remains in power, a military push by Russia to oust him may be seriously contemplated. The constant ceasefire violations could escalate to involve Russian servicemen - constituting a public casus belli. The desire by the West to "reset" relations with Moscow, putting the Georgia issue aside, may be interpreted as a tacit recognition of Russia's right to use military force. Link      

Kyiv Post: EU warns Belarus against recognizing Abkhazia, S. Ossetia (February 27, 2009)

The recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia's independence will be a serious barrier to Belarus' access to the Eastern Partnership project, chief of the European Parliament's Committee for International Affairs Jacek Saryusz-Wolski told Belarusian, Moldovan, Russian and Ukrainian reporters in Brussels on Thursday. The European Union does not recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia's independence, and expects the same from those who would like to cooperate with the EU, he said. Saryusz-Wolski also said that a delegation of the European Parliament would travel to Minsk in April to meet with the Belarusian leadership and opposition leaders. Link

ITAR-TASS: Lavrov accuses Saakashvili (February 17, 2009)

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili destroyed Georgia’s territorial integrity himself, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview published by the Sunday issue of the German magazine Der Spiegel. “Georgia treated chauvinistically the two indigenous peoples attached to it in the Soviet period. President Mikhail Saakashvili destroyed the Georgian territorial integrity with his order to bomb a peaceful city in South Ossetia. That was a crime against his own people, as violence was used against the ones Saakashvili called ‘Georgian citizens’,” he said. In the opinion of Lavrov, the South Ossetia and Abkhazia situation is similar with the Kosovo situation only on the surface. Link

EurActiv.com: Russia will build a naval base in Abkhazia (February 2, 2009)

Georgia's opposition˙last week˙accused President Mikheil Saakashvili of leading the country to "catastrophe" and demanded his resignation. At the same time, media reported that Russia will start building a naval base in Georgia's separatist region of Abkhazia. Link

The Georgian Times: Alasania organizes its own political base (January 26, 2009)

Irakli Alasania, the former Ambassador of Georgia to the UN, intends to establish his own party but may still possibly create an alliance with other opposition-minded ones, a credible source told GT on condition of anonymity.

After the news of Irakli Alasania’s resignation broke, media reports suggested he was intending to build a political career within the newly-created alliance of New Rights and Republicans. While Alasania continues to hold consultations with the latter, the apparent delay in concluding a deal is putting a damper on these prospects.

Irakli Alasania, who is tipped as a potential Presidential contender, made his first appearance as an opposition politician at a conference on December 24. ˙There he dwelt extensively on the mistakes he said President Saakashvili had made and explained the reasons for the rift between them but was taciturn about his future plans.

When asked whether he was going to create a new political party he said: “there are more than enough political parties in Georgia already,” which was interpreted as a “no”. But new reports suggest Alasania may have changed his mind.

The New Rights have also changed their upbeat tone. Their leader Davit Gamkrelidze says that Alasania is delaying making his decision and the opposition cannot continue to wait for him. “We cannot allow the strategy of the entire opposition to be built on only one person, whether they are Gamkrelidze, Usupashvili, Burjanadze, Natelashvili or Alasania. We need to act to create sound political forces which can change power constitutionally. It will be good if Alasania joins the opposition timeously. But he needs to become more active and clearly express his position on the impeachment of the President, the elections and other matters. At present he is still undecided, his political steps are coming late and it will be desirable if he becomes more active,” the Rezonansi newspaper quoted him as saying.

But the delay should not simply be ascribed to the cautious character of the former Ambassador. Alasania is apparently trying to build his own team rather than being used as a driver of opposition groups, a practice already familiar in the Georgian political scene.

Among other examples of such alignments, on November 2, 2003 late Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania put Nino Burjanadze as the number one in his United Democrats party list and renamed it Burjanadze-Democrats. Zhvania used Burjanadze’s popularity on the domestic and international fronts to win support for his party. Burjanadze enjoyed wide public support then and was regarded as a moderate, balanced politician. Zhvania’s experience, combined with Burjanadze’s popularity, was decisive in the success of the Burjanadze-Democrats, experts said at that time.

Viktor Dolidze, Georgia’s Ambassador to the OSCE, is reportedly joining Alasania. Viktor Dolidze was unavailable for comment when requested, his secretary at the Georgian department of OSCE failing to call us back as promised.

The Guardian: Six months after the war, Georgia looks very different (January 26, 2009)

For a few days last summer Georgia was under the world spotlight, portrayed by Mikheil Saakashvili, its president, as a victim of Russian aggression on a par with the invasion of Hungary in 1956 or Hitler's blitzkriegs. As Russian tanks rolled across northern Georgia and smoke from burning villages plumed into the sky, western politicians and the media rushed into talk of a new cold war. Six months later, Georgia is a different place. Leading figures in the opposition openly blame Saakashvili for the five-day war. So, too, do several recent defectors from his team, including two who were his standard-bearers last summer at the United Nations and in Moscow. Link

TREND News Agancy: Georgian Foreign Ministry demands pressure on Russia (January 13, 2009)

“As long as the international community will not have pressure on Russia, the peaceful process on regulating conflicts in Georgia will not be launched,” Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze said at the briefing on Jan.12. The minister said that the EU observers still have not got any opportunity to realize their activity in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This is the open violation of Sarkozy-Medvedev six-article ceasefire agreement. Link

Radio Free Europe: Georgian President “fundamentally misguided” (January 6, 2009)

Radio Free Europe reported that a potential contender for the presidency of Georgia, Irakli Alasania, is in consultations with Sozar Subari, Georgia's human rights ombudsman, who himself is an open critic of Saakashvili.˙ Georgia's GHN news agency has reported that the country's ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Viktor Dolidze, has also left his post with plans of joining a political alliance with Alasania. Link

Civil.ge: Saakashvili struggles to remain in power (December 29, 2008)

Georgia’s President Mikheil Saakashvili struggles to remain in power, after he has found himself under constantly growing criticism from the opposition, which demands either his resignation or impeachment. Saakashvili has proposed to amend the Constitution and limit Presidential powers by increasing the competencies of the Parliament and the Government. Civil.ge outlines his newest constitutional proposals. Link ˙˙˙

Civil.ge: Alasania calls for early elections (December 24, 2008)

Civil.ge reported that "Irakli Alasania, Georgia's former UN envoy, said it was possible to avert the August war and decided to resign because of having 'fundamental differences of views' with President Saakashvili. Speaking at a news conference in Tbilisi on December 24, Alasania said early elections should be held and added that he was holding consultations with various political groups. Alasania, who turned 35 on December 21, has been making headlines since December 5 when the news broke about his resignation. The press conference by Alasania, who returned from New York last night, was his first public statement on the matter after resignation." Link

Reuters: Russian army not fit for a modern war (December 18, 2008)

Reuters reported that Russia's war with Georgia showed that most of its senior officers are not equipped or trained to fight a modern war. Russia easily defeated its Western-leaning neighbor and briefly occupied large parts of the country after a five-day war in August, triggered by Tbilisi's attempt to retake its rebel pro-Moscow South Ossetia region by force. But the conflict exposed a lack of modern equipment, poor communications and other shortcomings in Moscow's Soviet-era war machine, Nikolai Makarov, chief of the general staff, said. Link

Associated Press: Alleged KGB’s spy lobbies for South Ossetia with U.S. Senators (December 15, 2008)

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Associated Press reported that a foreign activist lobbying in Washington this week to support a Russian-backed breakaway region has had frequent meetings and conversations with a high-level KGB agent there. Calling attention to war crimes against South Ossetians, self-described independent activist Lira Tskhovrebova lined up meetings at the U.S. State Department and on Capitol Hill. She visited with staff for Sen. Patrick Leahy, chairman of a panel overseeing foreign aid. The U.S. government itself paid for an academic event where she plans to speak later this week about her experiences surviving the war this summer with Georgia. Link

TREND News: Alasania is Georgia’s Strong Presidential Contender (December 12, 2008)

Irakli Alasania’s resignation from the post of Georgia’s representative at the UN can be the first step toward his future presidency in case of early elections, experts say. ˙“Irakali Alasania looks increasingly like a stronger candidate with experience more suited to the task of bring the Georgian nation together in the aftermath of the War,” said Ziba Norman, British expert on Caucasus and the Director and co-founder of Transatlantic Institute in London. Link

Civil.ge: New Opposition Alliance Formed with Alasania as its New Leader (December 8, 2008)

Two opposition parties - the Republican and New Rights - announced that they have set up an alliance with an ambition to create a viable "alternative force" to challenge the authorities. The alliance, they said, would push for holding the both early parliamentary and presidential elections; but it will be a matter of tactic, they added, which should come first - something which seems to be a matter of discussion within the alliance. Davit Usupashvili, the Republican Party's leader, confirmed that the two parties have had consultations with Irakli Alasania, but declined to go into details and said Alasania would himself speak about his future plans when he returns back to Tbilisi from New York this month. Link

The Georgian Times: Irakli Alasania resigns and joins opposition to Saakashvili

(December 5, 2008)

The Georgian Times reported that Irakli Alasania, Georgia’s Permanent Representative to the

UN in New York City, has resigned from his post and is likely to join political movements, which are in opposition to the incumbent President Saakashvili. Alasania is said to become a presidential contender from the Republican Party and the New Rights Party, which are pushing for new presidential elections. Link

The EuropeanCourier.org conducted an interview with Mr. Alasania two months before the outbreak of hostilities in Georgia. Our impression was that he is a very skillful and intelligent diplomat. In the past he gained trust of the de facto authorities of Abkhazia region and played important role in the peace negotiations. Read our interview

The European Courier: Russian Revanchism in the aftermath of the Georgian Blitzkrieg (Dec. 5, 2008)

In the wake of the August 2008 Russian incursion into Georgia, it is becoming clear that the rule of force is relapsing in the post-Soviet area. Having withdrawn from the Armed Forces in Europe Treaty in 2007, Russia is militarizing the Caucasus and its European frontiers, disregarding Western efforts to bring it back to the treaty regime. Russia is building airbases along the border with Ukraine, modernizing its nuclear submarine fleet, and placing long-range missiles in the Caucasus, Belarus and Kaliningrad [Kenigsberg] on the Baltic Sea. Ramifications of this Russian revanchism caught many in the West by surprise. But one has to understand that Moscow is not simply falling back into its “unpredictable” and “traditionally aggressive” international behavior, let alone the “imperial ambitions:” there are essential reasons for Russia’s revanchism. I will try to explain it here from the Russian point of view, which is less known in the West, and in the words of Russian officials and ideologues themselves, for neglecting their attitude and analyzing their policy by Western standards makes Russia unpredictable for the West. [...] Read more

The European Courier: Little Sarkozy That Couldn't (December 3, 2008)

[...] Undoubtedly, Berlusconi’s and Sarkozy’s romance with Russia, just after Obama’s election, posed a serious challenge for Central European countries, not only in the subject of location of the U.S. antimissile shield, but also in the field of EU’s policy toward the Georgian crisis.

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The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said on October 20th, that Russia has failed to meet its obligations under the cease-fire agreement and has not withdrawn to positions before the outbreak of hostilities. Nevertheless, during the EU-Russia Summit on November 14th, the French Presidency contradicted those statements and expressed satisfaction with Russia’s implementation of the agreement.

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A real discomfort must have been felt after that in many Central European countries, including Poland and the Baltic States, because the response came, once again, from Lech Kaczynski.

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On November 24th, Kaczynski accompanied by Georgia’s President Saakashvili approached South Ossetian border and was reportedly shot at with a machine gun. Although it was an obvious provocation, it showed that Russia has not implemented the peace agreement, nor it withdrew its soldiers from the territory.

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The information was corroborated the next day by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Matthew Bryza, who confirmed that Russia has not met its obligations under the ceasefire agreement and indeed has not withdrawn its troops. Read more˙

Chinaview.cn: Georgia breaks off relations with Nicaragua (November 30, 2008)

The foreign ministry of Georgia informed that the country is breaking off diplomatic relations with Nicaragua in protest against its recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia The decision was taken in view of Nicaragua's recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on Sept. 2, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Link

Cooperation with The Georgian Times (November 25, 2008)

Our latest interview with Mr. Andrzej Maciejewski, has been republished by The Georgian Times in Tbilisi, Georgia, which is also going to include the material in its printed edition next week. The Georgian Times will also contribute material to our magazine, giving some insight and unique perspective on the situation in Caucasus and Russia’s foreign policy. Link ˙

BBC: Poland’s and Georgia’s Presidents fired at close to S. Ossetian border (November 23, 2008)

According to BBC, shots have been fired near a motorcade carrying the Georgian and Polish presidents. No injuries were reported in the incident, close to a checkpoint near Georgia's rebel South Ossetia region. Georgian officials said the shots came from inside South Ossetia. But Russia and South Ossetia denied the claim. Link

ITAR-TASS: Abkhazia to participate in international consultations in Geneva (November 15, 2008)

The Abkhazian side will participate in the international consultations in Geneva, Abkhazian Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba told Itar-Tass on Friday. According to him, the Abkhazian authorities received an invitation Friday from the organizers to take part in the international consultations on security in the Caucasus. Link

Voice of America: Georgian Ccrisis reveals limited leverega with Russia (November 8, 2008)

The Georgian conflict has shown a resurgent Russia ready to use harsh power politics to advance its aims  and Europe was not able to put up a united front against it, says Michael Denison of London’s Chatham House research center. “You look at the UK and the US, not directly dependent on Russian energy - willing and able to take a sharper line with Russia,” says Denison.  He says Eastern Europe with its old fears of Moscow’s domination also took a harsher stance.  But, says Denison, not so Europe’s central belt, “Germany, Italy, France, all of whom have look to cut bilateral deals, looked to accommodate Russia.” Link

FinChannel.com: Russia ratifies treaties with Georgian provinces (November 4, 2008)

Moscow legalized its relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russian MPs followed President Dmitry Medvedev’s request and timely ratified friendship treaties with the republics - the head of state introduced the documents to the lower chamber of the Parliament last week. According to Chairman of the State Duma International Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev, “the treaties are in line with Russia’s national interests, with their wording being the same as in the treaties concluded with other friendly states”. Link

Kyiv Post: Russia could not wage a war against a bigger army than that of Georgia’s (October 28, 2008)

According to Jane’s Strategic Advisory Services, Russia's war in Georgia showed its military would be no match for a bigger enemy because it has not adapted to post-Cold War realities. Improvements in command, training levels and the employment of flexible, modern weapons systems are required before the Russian military can face any opponents larger or better equipped than the Georgian military. Link

The Moscow Times: Russia Names S. Ossetia’s Prime Minister (October 24, 2008)

Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia on Wednesday approved a former Russian tax official as its prime minister, prompting Georgian charges that Moscow has annexed the region after a war in August. Aslanbek Bulatsev, a former tax chief in neighboring North Ossetia, was approved by the rebel region's parliament. Link

Eurasianhome.org: Looking for settlement of the Abkhaz and S. Ossetian conflicts (Oct. 21, 2008)

Michael Averko, an independent foreign policy analysts, writes that “Russia arguably could and should have refrained from deciding on whether to recognize South Ossetian and Abkhaz independence. Doing so would have given the Kremlin a more honest broker status, without limiting its ability to implement policies. The continued non-recognition of South Ossetian and Abkhaz independence would make Russia more popular with Georgians. Among Georgians, there is a consensus that South Ossetia and Abkhazia are part of Georgia. Overall, Georgians are not as historically antagonistic towards Russia as some other peoples.” Link

Bloomberg: Daniel Fried criticizes Russia for not complying with cease-fire agreement (Oct. 20, 2008)

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said Russia has failed to meet its obligations under a European Union-brokered cease-fire that ended a five-day war with Georgia in August. "The cease-fire accord negotiated by Sarkozy requires Russian armed forces to withdraw to their positions before the outbreak of hostilities,'' Fried told reporters today in the Georgian capital Tbilisi. "The Russians haven't done so. They're in compliance with some of it,'' he said, referring to the cease-fire. Link

Christian Science Monitor: Abkhazia struggles with identity crisis (October 19, 2008)

While the Abkhaz republic, recognized only by Russia and Nicaragua, has defiantly proclaimed its independence from Georgia for 15 years, it's having trouble letting go of its ties to Russia. Billboards in the capital city, Sukhumi, proclaim: "Independence, freedom, and peace," but only under juxtaposed images of Russian and Abkhazian flags and the two countries' presidents. Stores are stocked with Russian goods, and every summer Abkhazia's pristine coast is flooded with Russian tourists. Link

Prof. Zi©ba: Poland, U.S. wrong to support Saakashvili... Obama better for Central Europe (October 16, 2008)˙

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The EuropeanCourier.org interviews Prof. Ryszard Zi©ba, Jean Monnet Chair at the Institute of International Relations of the University of Warsaw. We talk: U.S. missile defense shield in Central Europe, the Georgian crisis, foreign policy toward Russia and U.S. presidential elections. Read more

Council of European Union: Russia’s withdrawal satisfactory (October 13, 2008)

Here is a link to a document issued today by the European Union in regards to Russian troops’ withdrawal from Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions, which the Council finds satisfactory. The issue was discussed by the General Affairs and Relations Council. Every month the Council brings together the foreign affairs ministers of the European Union, the European Commission and the Secretary-General of the European Union, the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Link

Financial Times: Saakashvili will not attend EU-Georgia conference (October 2, 2008)

The president of Georgia will not attend next month’s European Union conference to discuss his country’s conflict with Russia, after predicting that Moscow will not be ready to negotiate seriously on the issue for several months. In an interview with the FT, Mikheil Saakashvili said the conference in Geneva scheduled for October 15 would be attended by officials rather than politicians, and that currently “all diplomatic activities have only increased Russia’s aggression.” Link

TheNews.pl: Poland increases military spending in reaction to the Georgian crisis (September 30, 2008)

Poland’s government decided to increase military spending for FY2009 by approximately $1 billion, this is by 9%. The increase is regarded to be necessary in the light of the recent invasion of Georgia and the 25% rise in Russia’s military spending for FY2009. Lately, the Polish government also undertook decisive steps to speed up the construction of LNG terminal to decrease country’s dependence on Russia’s natural gas. Link

UNHCR: Links to reports about the refugees’ situation after the Georgian Crisis (September 29, 2008)

Here is a link to a UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ website which focuses on the situation of the refugees after the Georgian crisis. It includes frequent reports from the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions. Link

The Economic Times: Russia to lose another major international deal (September 21, 2008)

Fearing that Russia may use the uranium from Australia for its nuclear weapons program, Australia's Federal Parliament's Treaties Committee advised the government to delay ratifying the treaty with the nation. Australia is expected to review a report before it makes a final decision on the matter. The Treaty, worth about $1 billion dollars for sale of uranium to Russia, was signed by the Howard government last year. Link
  

Global Guerillas: Halting Russian Encroachment (September 15, 2008)

John Robb, an author of the Brave New War, posted an interesting opinion at his blog regarding ramifications of the Georgian crisis. Robb claims that Georgia, the Baltic States and other neighbors of Russia “can inflict damage on Russia that far exceeds the potential economic benefits Russia receives. Any one of these nations could easily inflict tens of billions in damage to Russia's energy industry (which pays for much of the Russian government). If these nations came together in a defensive alliance, its possible that Russian energy production could be halved and inflict damage that's counted in the trillions.” Link

Daily Telegraph: David Miliband subjected to 'F-word' tirade from Russian foreign minister (September 13, 2008)

David Miliband, the U.K.’s Foreign Secretary, was subjected to a tirade of four-letter abuse when he spoke to his Russian counterpart over the country's invasion of Georgia. The Daily Telegraph reported that Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, reacted with fury when Miliband and he spoke on the telephone. Mr Lavrov objected to being lectured by the British. Such was the repeated use of the "F-word" according to one insider who has seen the transcript; it was difficult to draft a readable note of the conversation. Link

Palin: War with Russia Possible (September 11, 2008)

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin left open the option of waging war with Russia if it were to invade neighboring Georgia and the former Soviet republic were a NATO ally. "We will not repeat a Cold War," Palin said in her first television interview since becoming Republican John McCain's vice presidential running mate two weeks ago. Palin said that she'd favor including Georgia and Ukraine, both former Soviet republics, in NATO despite opposition by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Asked whether the United States would have to go to war with Russia if it invaded Georgia, and the country was part of NATO, Palin said: "Perhaps so." Link
  

Reuters: Russia agrees to complete troops pull out (September 8, 2008)

Reuters reports that, Russia agreed to completely withdraw its troops from Georgia's heartland within a month, but there was no commitment to scale back its military presence in two Georgian separatist regions. Georgia welcomed the deal as a "step forward", brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on behalf of the European Union during four hours of talks with Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev. Link

AP: No U.S. civilian nuclear cooperation with Russia (September 6, 2008)

Now is not the right time for the U.S. to move forward on a once-celebrated deal for civilian nuclear cooperation with Russia, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Saturday. Her comment increased speculation that President Bush is planning to punish Moscow for invading Georgia, a former Soviet republic, by canceling the agreement. Such a move is being planned, according to senior Bush administration officials, but is not yet final. Link

Financial Times: Foreign Investors Severely Punish Russia's Economy (September 6, 2008)

Despite the EU’s decision, earlier this week, not to impose any sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Georgia, the international investors started withdrawing their capital from Russia’s markets pushing its economy to the edge of a breakdown. Only yesterday 50 billion dollars was withdrawn from the Russia’s capital market causing Russia’s central bank to intervene to support its currency. As independent bankers stated, Russia’s capital market has found itself in the worst situation since the financial crisis of 1998. Link

AFP: Saakashvili is "political corpse" (September 2, 2008)

Speaking in an interview ahead of US Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to Georgia, Medvedev again accused Washington of helping Tbilisi "build its war machine" and urged the United States to review its relations with the country. "For us, the present Georgian regime has collapsed. President Saakashvili no longer exists in our eyes. He is a political corpse," Medvedev said in the interview broadcast on Russian television. Link

Russia Today: It is Impossible to Isolate Russia (September 2, 2008)

The Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has criticised the EU, saying Monday's emergency summit in Brussels failed to acknowledge Georgia's aggressive role in the Caucasus conflict. In an interview with Euronews, he also said Russia would not be isolated from the international community.Medvedev said the meeting showed that: "unfortunately, there is still no understanding of Russia's motives in making the decision to repulse Georgia's aggression, and in making the decision to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia as subjects of international law. This is deplorable but not fatal, because in this world, things change", he said. Link

The Independent: EU issues cautious warning to Russia (September 2, 2008)

European Union leaders warned last night that Russia faced "isolation" unless Moscow made a "fundamental choice" to back down from its confrontational position in the Caucasus. After an emergency summit in Brussels, EU leaders said relations with Russia had come to a "crossroads". Future economic and political ties "may" depend on Moscow's willingness to remove troops from undisputed Georgian soil and implement an EU-brokered six-point peace plan. Link

Reuters: Saakashvili politically safe for now (August 30, 2008)

Reuters reports that despite leading Georgia into a disastrous war with Russia and losing two of the country's provinces, President Mikheil Saakashvili looks politically secure for now as Georgians unite in adversity. The U.S.-educated lawyer projects a pro-market, media savvy image but his rough treatment of opponents last November and harsh anti-Russian rhetoric has alarmed some in the West who fear his impetuous style is unsuited for the volatile Caucasus. Link

BBC: Miliband warns Russia (August 30, 2008)

Foreign Secretary David Miliband issued a warning to Russia not to begin a new Cold War, when he flew to Ukraine to meet the country's leaders. He says that Russia's actions have altered European stability; and added that Ukraine is an important country in reassessing the situation in Europe, which has the full support of the UK. Listen here

AP: Russia officially recognizes Abkhazia's and S. Ossetia's independence (August 26, 2008)

Russia stunned the West on Tuesday by recognizing the independence claims of two Georgian breakaway regions, and U.S. warships plied the waters off of Georgia in a gambit the Kremlin saw as gunboat diplomacy. The announcement by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ignored the strong opposition of Europe and the United States, and signaled the Kremlin's determination to shape its neighbors' destinies even at the risk of closing its doors to the West. Link

The Times Online: Interview with Ukraine's Victor Yushchenko (August 25, 2008)

Here is a link to an interview with Ukraine's President Victor Yushchenko, in which he analyzes the Georgian crisis. According to Yushchenko, "the main lesson from Georgia is that no single model of national security can guarantee the defense of national sovereignty. Only collective security can guarantee peace and stability and restrain aggression. Ukraine has to move towards the NATO alliance. For our country it is the only way to protect our national security and sovereignty. When the borders of NATO expand so too does the region of peace and stability." Link
 

The Independent: Russian parliament asks Medvedev to recognize independence of S. Ossetia and Abkhazia (August 25, 2008)

Russia has raised the stakes in the political fallout over its war with Georgia, as both houses of the Russian parliament voted unanimously to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The final decision on whether to recognize Georgia's two breakaway regions as independent countries will be taken by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Link

The European Courier: Turkey or Russia, East of Georgia (August 23, 2008)

Turkey has been a staunch backer of Georgia and its integration into NATO. Undoubtedly

Turkey is more cognizant of its ever increasing role as fronting Euro Atlantic interests in the region, as well as its historical rivalry with first Russia and then the Soviet Union. Turkey is working on closer economic ties to the US to˙ reflect already the integral defensive relationship through NATO and beyond. Read more

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Council of Europe: Russia's aggression is unacceptable (August 22, 2008)

"It is unthinkable that, in the 21st century, a member State of the Council of Europe invades the territory of another member State. The occupation by Russia of a part of Georgia, as well as the human rights violations in the territories under its control, are unacceptable and cannot go unpunished," declared M ty s E”rsi (Hungary, ALDE) and Kastriot Islami (Albania, SOC), co-rapporteurs on the monitoring of the obligations and commitments by Georgia of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), after their visit to Tbilisi and Gori from 18 to 21 August. Link

CNN/Interfax: Abkhazia asks Russia for recognition of its independence (August 21, 2008)

The parliament of Abkhazia, has asked Russia to recognize its independence, according to a report by the Russian news agency Interfax. Lawmakers approved a request for independence from Abkhaz President Sergei Bagapsh, Interfax reported. Link

Reuters: Russia will start withdrawal (August 21, 2008)

Russia said it would complete a pullback of troops in Georgia by the end of Friday, August 22, but it stopped short of the extensive withdrawal demanded by the West, saying it would keep a force deep inside Georgia's heartland. NATO this week suspended contacts with Russia in protest at the conflict, and Russian hit back by freezing some military cooperation with the alliance. Link

The European Courier: Europe and the Georgian crisis (August 20, 2008)

The Russia’s invasion of Georgia may be a turning point in the history. However, it is hard to believe those voices, which claim that a new Cold War is coming and that the West will define itself once again in opposition to the Orthodox civilization. Russia is not a match to the West and never will be again. It is a utopian dream of some of Russia’s elites, who believe that their country can become a counterweight to the overwhelming power of the West. Read more

Brzezinski: Let's withdraw from Russia's 2014 Winter Games in Socchi (August 19, 2008)

Zbigniew Brzezinski, once a hardliner against Russia in the Carter Administration, calls for U.S. withdrawal from the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, which are to be hosted in Russia's Socchi. It is, however, somewhat utopian and not proportionate idea. And just to remind everybody, there was a similar proposition in respect to the Beijing Olympic Games and the Darfur genocide. It did not work. Also, why should the West wait 6 years to punish Russia for its aggression, which happened just now in 2008? Link

Robert Gates: Russia will not launch a nuclear strike against Poland (August 17, 2008)

Robert Gates, U.S. Secretary of Defense, dismissed Russia's threats that it will launch a nuclear strike on Poland for its support of Georgia and for signing a missile defense deal with the United States. Gates called those statements as Russia's empty rhetoric. Link

David Cameron: Stop Russians coming to the UK (August 17, 2008)

David Cameron called for visa restrictions on Russian citizens wanting to visit Britain to punish Russia for its invasion of Georgia. The Tory leader also called for Moscow to be suspended from the G8 group of industrial nations and for its talks on a partnership agreement with the EU to be frozen. Link

National Review: Russia must be punished (August 16, 2008)

Writing for the National Review, Frank J. Gaffney, the president of an influential conservative think-tank, formulates responses to Russia's aggression against Georgia. In Gaffney's opinion, Russia should be excluded from G-8 group, should be prevented from joining WTO and its Gazprom should be denied making investments in Alaska. Additionally, measures should be taken leading to decrease of shares' values of Gazprom and Lukoil, which are traded at the NYSE. Link

Mo Sacirbey: Russia's agenda in Georgia (August 16, 2008)

When most Americans heard of initial reports that Russian tanks were streaming into Georgia, some at least for the moment must have wondered if Atlanta was soon to come under bombardment. But this Georgia, the one in the Caucuses that used to be part of the Soviet Union is not in the consciousness of many Americans. This Georgia is far away, with problems and "ethnic hatreds" of its own. Nonetheless, there is much to be concerned about for the globe and Americans even if it is not the Georgia Ray Charles' sings off, as the lyrics say: "Georgia, Georgia, No Peace I find." Read more

AP: George W. Bush reasserts Georgia's territorial integrity, steps up rethoric against Russia (August 16, 2008)

George W. Bush warned Russia against making claims to the territory of S. Ossetia and Abkhazia."These regions are a part of Georgia and the international community has repeatedly made clear that they will remain so," said Bush, with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at his side. "There's no room for debate on this matter", he added. Link
   

New York Times: U.S.-Poland missile deal a response to Russia's invasion of Georgia (August 16, 2008)

According to New York Times, the missile defense deal "reflected growing alarm in countries like Poland, once a conquered Soviet client state, about a newly rich and powerful Russia's intentions in its former cold war sphere of power. In fact, negotiations dragged on for 18 months - but were completed only as old memories and new fears surfaced in recent days." In New York Times's opinion, the missile deal is the strongest West's reaction to Russia's military operation in Georgia so far. Link

Gorbachev: Saakashvili doesn't deserve trust (August 15, 2008)

In the air of CNN's Larry King program, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev said Russia moved forces to South Ossetia in response to what was happening to Tskhinvali, as it needed to address it, to address devastation of the city, where sophisticated weapons were used, to address the killing of people. The clash was provoked by Georgia, Gorbachev emphasized. "Saakashvili doesn't deserve trust, but this is for the Georgians to decide", he added. Link

Financial Times: Russia's response to Georgia was right (August 14, 2008)

Writing for the Financial Times, Sergei Lavrov, Russia's Foreign Minister, says that "Russia has been entirely proportionate in its military response to Georgia's attack on Russian citizens and peacekeepers. Russia's tactical objective has been to force Georgian troops out of the region, which is off limits to them under international agreements. Despite Georgia's assertion that it had imposed a unilateral ceasefire, Russian peacekeepers and supporting troops remained under continued attack - a fact confirmed by observers and journalists in the region. Russia had no choice but to target the military infrastructure outside the region being used to sustain the Georgian offensive. Russia's response has been targeted, proportionate and legitimate." Link

Times Online: Ukraine threatens to blockade Russian fleet in Crimea (August 14, 2008)

Ukraine threatened to blockade the Russian Black Sea Fleet in an act of solidarity with Georgia that risked escalating the conflict. After flying to Tbilisi to assure Georgians of his country's support, President Yushchenko signed an order imposing tough restrictions on the Russian fleet, which is based in the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol. Mr Yushchenko's decree instructs Russia to give 72 hours' notice of any movement of ships, aircraft or personnel in Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities were given the power to alter those plans. Link
 

Peace Plan: a link to the Georgia peace plan (August 14, 2008)

Here is a link to the full text of the Georgia peace plan negotiated by Nicolas Sarkozy. Link

AFP: John McCain slams Russia and Putin over assault on Georgia (August 12, 2008)

Speaking today, John McCain said that "Russia no longer shares any of the values and principles of the G-8, so they should be excluded". He also added that he would support Georgia's bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) if he is elected president in November. Link

ICJ: Georgia sues Russia for ethnic cleansing (August 12, 2008)
 

The Republic of Georgia instituted today proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the Russian Federation for "its actions on and around the territory of Georgia" in breach of the 1965 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). In its Application, Georgia "also seeks to ensure that the individual rights" under the Convention "of all persons on the territory of Georgia are fully respected and protected". Link

AP: US, allies weigh punishment for Russia (August 12, 2008)

Scrambling to find ways to punish Russia for its invasion of pro-Western Georgia, the United States and its allies are considering expelling Moscow from an exclusive club of wealthy nations and canceling an upcoming joint NATO-Russia military exercise, Bush administration officials said. Link
  

Voice of Russia: Cuba supports Russia's position on S. Ossetia (August 12, 2008)

Cuba supports Russia's position towards the crisis in South Ossetia and demands a withdrawal of Georgian forces from the zone of conflict. "It is a lie that Georgia defends its national sovereignty" said Raul Castro. He added that "the Russian forces have legally been in South Ossetia from the very beginning to carry out a peacekeeping mission and have never been involved in provocative actions". Link

John McCain: Republican candidate warns Medvedev and Putin of severe, long-term consequences of their actions (August 11, 2008)

John McCain, Republican presidential candidate, warned Russia of severe, long-term negative consequences of Russian aggression against Georgia, and therefore pushed the Georgian crisis in the spotlight of American media. He said that America has important strategic interests at stake in Georgia, especially the continued flow of oil through the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which Russia attempted to bomb in recent days; the operation of a critical communication and trade route from Georgia through Azerbaijan and Central Asia; and the integrity an d influence of NATO, whose members reaffirmed last April the territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty of Georgia. Link

Polish Radio: Poland and the Baltic States condemn attack on Georgia (August 10, 2008)

The presidents of Poland and the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have issued a joint statement condemning what they see as the naked aggression of Russia against the independent state of Georgia as conflict escalates in the breakaway state of South Ossetia. They have also called on the European Union and NATO to take up the initiative and oppose, what they called, 'the spread of imperialist and revisionist policy in the east of Europe." Link

Daily Telegraph: Putin is convinced of West's weakness (August 10, 2008)

James Sherr from the Chatham House publishes an interesting op-ed in the Daily Telegraph offering some broader, strategic perspective on the conflict. He says that Vladimir Putin is sure that the West's power is diminishing, therefore he is not afraid to act decisively in Georgia. As Sherr puts it "Mikhail Saakashvili, Georgia's President, might have been profoundly unwise to employ massive force against the pro-Russian separatists in South Ossetia last Thursday, but his lapses of judgement are not the point. The commanders of Russian forces and their political masters in the Kremlin hoped he would behave exactly as he did. The episode is a perfect application of what Russian military scientists call "reflexive control": the defeat of an adversary through his own efforts. It is also an application of Clausewitz's maxim that war is a tool of policy." Link
 

Prezydent.pl: Polish President allows access to his official website by Georgian authorities after cyber-attack on Georgia blocked its governmental servers (August 10, 2008)

Russia expanded war on Georgia by launching a cyber-attack on Georgia's governmental servers. The webiste of Georgia's foreign ministry has been shut down. In an immediate response to this new attack, Polish President allowed access to his official governmental website to Georgia's authorities, which will be positing news and their statements over there since now. All posts are in English. Link

Reuters: Georgia offers cease-fire (August 10, 2008)

Reuters reports that Georgia offered a ceasefire and peace talks on Sunday after pulling troops back from South Ossetia's separatist capital but some fighting continued and Russia demanded an unconditional withdrawal. Reflecting Western alarm at the widening conflict, the United States condemned Russia's "disproportionate and dangerous" military action. France, the holder of the EU presidency, sent its foreign minister on a peace mission. Link

Reuters: Georgia calls for a cease-fire in S. Ossetia (August 9, 2008)

Georgia called for a ceasefire on Saturday after Russian bombers widened an offensive to force back Georgian troops seeking control over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. President George W. Bush said Russian attacks on Georgia outside South Ossetia marked a "dangerous escalation" of the crisis and urged Moscow to halt the bombing immediately. Link

Polish Radio: Polish Prime Minister and the President vow to undertake diplomatic offensive in the EU to help Georgia (August 9, 2008)

All the evidence shows that Georgia's [territorial] integrity has been violated," Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters after an emergency meeting with President Kaczynski at Gdansk airport this morning. The two Polish leaders are to be in direct contact. He also informed about taking steps to organize a meeting of the heads of EU states concerning the current situation in Georgia. Also a special working group devoted to the issue and including Poland's foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski is to be created. Link
  

BBC News: Georgia-Russia war coverage (August 8, 2008)

Here is a link to BBC's coverage of the Georgia- Russia conflict, which includes videos with statements by Georgia's President Saakashvili and Russia's Foreign Ministaer, Sergei Lavrov. Link

John McCain: Statement on Russia's aggression in Georgia (August 8, 2008)

Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, issued a strong statement against, what he called, "the Russian aggression in Georgia". McCain said that "the U.S. should immediately convene an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to call on Russia to reverse course. The U.S. should immediately work with the EU and the OSCE to put diplomatic pressure on Russia to reverse this perilous course it has chosen. We should immediately call a meeting of the North Atlantic Council to assess Georgia's security and review measures NATO can take to contribute to stabilizing this very dangerous situation. Finally, the international community needs to establish a truly independent and neutral peacekeeping force in South Ossetia." Link

Reuters: Russia escalates the war and attacks Georgia's territory hundreds miles from S. Ossetia

(August 8, 2008)

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili will declare martial law in a few hours time, the secretary of Georgia's Security Council, Kakha Lomaia, said. He also informed Reuters that Russia has bombed the (Black Sea) port of Poti and the military base at Senaki. "We think Russia has started to bomb civil and economic infrastructure" he added. Link

AP: Russia sends a column of tanks to South Ossetia (August 8, 2008)

The Georgian military offensive in South Ossetia prompted furious response of Russia, which vowed retaliation and sent a column of tanks into the region. Russia's Channel 1 television earlier showed Russian tanks that it said had entered South Ossetia. The report said the convoy was expected to reach the provincial capital within a few hours. Link

Polish Radio: Kaczynski establishes a hot line with Saakashvili, urges peaceful solution (August 8, 2008)

After eruption of fights in Southern Ossetia, Polish President, Lech Kaczynski, established

a hot line with Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili. Kaczynski urged Geogia's leader to

look for a peaceful solution instead of continuing the violence. In a statement promptly issued after the phone conference, Kaczynski reiterated Poland's full support for Georgia's territorial integrity and called "unacceptable" any military interference in the conflict by Russia. Link

Reuters: Fighting continues in South Ossetia (August 8, 2008)

According to Reuters, the Georgian troops launched a military offensive to re-take the territory of Southern Ossetia. Georgia's president, Mikheil Saakashvili, said his forces had "freed" the greater part of the territory's capital, Tskhinvali, and ordered a full-scale mobilization of military reservists. Georgia said four Russian jets entered Georgian airspace and dropped bombs on two places just south of the territory, which has been outside central government control since the 1990s. Link

Al Jazeera: Heavy Fighting Erupts in South Ossetia (April 7, 2008)

Heavy fighting has restarted in Georgia's breakaway province of South Ossetia, just hours after it appeared that the two sides had agreed to a cease-fire. Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia's president, had earlier offered an immediate halt to heavy fighting, which had injured at least 21 people, and said he had ordered his forces not to return fire if attacked. Russian peacekeepers in the region reported that shelling had stopped for at least four hours after Saakashvili's televised speech. However, just hours later, Eduard Kokoity, the leader of the de facto government of South Ossetia, said that his forces were confronting Georgians in the outskirts of Tskhinvali. Link
 

Reuters: Russia, U.S. call for a halt of violence in South Ossetia (August 6, 2008)

Russia and the United States called for a halt to violence in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia where separatists made disputed claims of military success against Tbilisi's forces. But while Moscow's Foreign Ministry urged calm over the deepening conflict, the Russian military accused Georgian military jets of overflying South Ossetia, a charge Tbilisi swiftly denied. Link

Voice of America: Georgia key to Democracy Building in Caucasus (August 5, 2008)

Voice of America publishes an interesting article by its senior correspondent, Andre de Nesnera. In Nesnera's opinion, "relations between Moscow and Tbilisi have been strained ever since Mikhail Saakashvili was elected president of Georgia more than four years ago following a popular movement known as the Rose Revolution." He concludes that "the United States and other western nations could play an important diplomatic role in defusing tensions between Russia and Georgia in order to keep the situation in that volatile region from spiraling out of control." Link

Civil.ge: Russia tries to create "illusion of war" (August 4, 2008)

According to Georgian State Minister for Reintegration, Temur Iakobashvilli, Russia tries to create "an illusion of war" aimed at derailing increasing efforts to revive the peace-process in the region. He said that recent tensions with South Ossetia, combined with the Abkhaz side's refusal to take part in talks, were designed to obstruct the peace initiatives. Link

Mid.ru: Russia warns Georgia over breakaway province (August 4, 2008)

Russian Foreign Ministry warned Georgia of using disproportionate force in its breakaway province of South Ossetia. According to the Russian Ministry: "despite statements made by Georgian leaders about the need to take urgent action to de-escalate tension, the practical actions of Tbilisi belie these declarations. On the evening of August 2 and on the night of August 2-3, Georgia was conducting undisguised troop maneuvers on the approaches to Tskhinvali, and bringing troops and heavy army up to the Georgian-Ossetian zone of conflict." The Russian side called on both parties of the conflict to show maximum restraint. Link

Reuters: Georgia, South Ossetia talk war after 6 die in clash (August 3, 2008)

Reuters reports that Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia was evacuating children to Russia and accused Georgia of targeting civilians after six people died overnight in a shootout with Georgian forces. The president of the separatist region, Eduard Kokoity, said he was ready to mobilize his region's men and take volunteers from the Russian republic of North Ossetia and other Caucasus republics to fight Georgia. Link
 

DPA: Efforts continue for Abkhaz talks (July 31, 2008)

Jens Ploetner, a German Foreign Ministry spokesman, said that Germany was closely involved in attempts to arrange high-level talks between the Georgian and the Abkhaz sides. Berlin remains a tentative venue for a meeting, but no date has yet been set, he added. An initial proposal envisaged holding a meeting in Berlin on 30-31 July failed to materialize as the Abkhaz side refused to attend. Link

RIA Novosti: Russian railroad troops leaving Abkhazia (July 30, 2008)

Russia has started to withdraw soldiers it sent to repair railways in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia. The spokesman for the railway troops, Ivan Boboshin, said that 150 soldiers had left the region this week and the rest would leave Abkhazia after a ceremony in the local capital Sukhumi. Link

Polish Radio - External Service: Poland urged Russia and Georgia to peacefully settle the conflict in Abkhazia and South Ossetia (July 29, 2008)

Mariusz Handzlik, the director of the Polish President's Foreign Affairs Bureau, spoke out in favor of a peaceful settlement of the dispute between Georgia and Russia over the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. He appealed to Russia to withdraw from actions taken last April, when President Vladimir Putin instructed the Russian government to establish contacts with the separatist leaders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia received this as an attempt by Moscow to annex a part of its territory. Link

UN: Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, submits his report to the Security Council (July 29, 2008)

The UN Security Council is to discuss the newest report by Secretary Ban Ki-moon about the situation in Abkhazia region for the period of April 2 - July 14, 2008. According to the Secretary General, "after a period of relative stability in the winter, the last four months have witnessed a resurgence of tensions". According to the report as many as 32 countries have already dispatched their military observers to the region, including the United States, Great Britain, Germany and Russia. Link

The European Courier: Georgia vs. Russia (May 21, 2008) ˙
 

Read our interview with Amb. Irakli Alasania, Permanent Representative of Georgia to the United Nations in New York City about the Abkhazia crisis, Georgia’s peace initiatives, relations with Russia, NATO membership and the political role of the U.S. in Caucasus. Read more