Jump to content

Russo-Georgian War: Difference between revisions

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
cleanup
the hearsay does not belong here
Line 33: Line 33:
The '''2008 South Ossetia war''' formally began on [[August 7]], [[2008]] with a military attack by [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] into [[South Ossetia]], one of two provinces which had declared [[independence]] sixteen years previously in 1992.<ref>[http://www.c-r.org/resources/occasional-papers/abkhazia-ten-years-on.php]</ref> Neither province had found international acceptance of sovereignty. [[Russia|Russian]] armed forces quickly responded with a large scale counter-attack into South Ossetia, advancing to a significant extent into Georgia proper. A preliminary [[cease-fire]] was arranged by the [[President-in-Office]] of the [[European Union]], [[French President]] [[Nicolas Sarkozy]], on [[August 12]], and signed by Georgia and Russia on [[August 15]], [[2008]].
The '''2008 South Ossetia war''' formally began on [[August 7]], [[2008]] with a military attack by [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] into [[South Ossetia]], one of two provinces which had declared [[independence]] sixteen years previously in 1992.<ref>[http://www.c-r.org/resources/occasional-papers/abkhazia-ten-years-on.php]</ref> Neither province had found international acceptance of sovereignty. [[Russia|Russian]] armed forces quickly responded with a large scale counter-attack into South Ossetia, advancing to a significant extent into Georgia proper. A preliminary [[cease-fire]] was arranged by the [[President-in-Office]] of the [[European Union]], [[French President]] [[Nicolas Sarkozy]], on [[August 12]], and signed by Georgia and Russia on [[August 15]], [[2008]].


The war involves the country of Georgia, the Russian Federation and the [[Diplomatic recognition#unrecognized state|breakaway]] [[republic]]s of South Ossetia and [[Abkhazia]]. The war began after a ceasefire agreement between Georgia and South Ossetia broke down, with an escalation of fire exchanges and "volunteers .. arriving in South Ossetia to offer help in the event of Georgian aggression" (citing the 5th August's phrase of the South Ossetian presidential envoy).<ref>[http://www.interfax.com/3/416284/news.aspx Volunteers arriving in South Ossetia - president's envoy]</ref> Georgia then proceeded to launch a major military offensive in South Ossetia.<ref name="google1">[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/08/AR2008080800557.html Red Cross needs corridor for wounded in S. Ossetia], [[Associated Press]], August 8, 2008</ref> In the following battle, the capital of [[South Ossetia]], [[Tskhinvali]], was [[Battle of Tskhinvali|heavily damaged]]. Starting on the 2nd of August and increasing with the intensifying fighting, a stream of refugees from South Ossetia fled into Russian region of North Ossetia, reaching an estimated 24,000 to 30,000 of the 70,000 overall population.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/14/georgia.russia.refugees/index.html?eref=rss_latest U.N.: 115,000 displaced by Georgia conflict], [[CNN]], August 15, 2008</ref> 11,190 of them returned after the intervention of Russia in the war.<ref>[http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2008/08/10/georgi19581.htm North Ossetia: Georgia/Russia: Update on Casualties and Displaced Civilians], [[Human Rights Watch]], August 10, 2008</ref> Russia and South Ossetians alleged a civilian death toll of over 2,000 early in the conflict.<ref name="ind">{{cite web|url = http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-sends-forces-into-georgian-rebel-conflict-888487.html |date=[[8 August]] 2008 |title = South Ossettia leader says over 2,000 killed in conflict |accessdate = 2008-08-09 |publisher =[[Reuters]]}}</ref> However the [[Human Rights Watch]] investigators have called this estimate "suspicious" and "very doubtful", citing actual hospital reports of 273 wounded and 44 dead.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/13/georgia Russia exaggerating South Ossetian death toll, says human rights group Russia exaggerating South Ossetian death toll, says human rights group], ''[[The Guardian]]'', August 13 2008</ref>
The war involves the country of Georgia, the Russian Federation and the [[Diplomatic recognition#unrecognized state|breakaway]] [[republic]]s of South Ossetia and [[Abkhazia]]. The war began after a ceasefire agreement between Georgia and South Ossetia broke down, with an escalation of fire exchanges. Georgia then proceeded to launch a major military offensive in South Ossetia.<ref name="google1">[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/08/AR2008080800557.html Red Cross needs corridor for wounded in S. Ossetia], [[Associated Press]], August 8, 2008</ref> In the following battle, the capital of [[South Ossetia]], [[Tskhinvali]], was [[Battle of Tskhinvali|heavily damaged]]. Starting on the 2nd of August and increasing with the intensifying fighting, a stream of refugees from South Ossetia fled into Russian region of North Ossetia, reaching an estimated 24,000 to 30,000 of the 70,000 overall population.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/14/georgia.russia.refugees/index.html?eref=rss_latest U.N.: 115,000 displaced by Georgia conflict], [[CNN]], August 15, 2008</ref> 11,190 of them returned after the intervention of Russia in the war.<ref>[http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2008/08/10/georgi19581.htm North Ossetia: Georgia/Russia: Update on Casualties and Displaced Civilians], [[Human Rights Watch]], August 10, 2008</ref> Russia and South Ossetians alleged a civilian death toll of over 2,000 early in the conflict.<ref name="ind">{{cite web|url = http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-sends-forces-into-georgian-rebel-conflict-888487.html |date=[[8 August]] 2008 |title = South Ossettia leader says over 2,000 killed in conflict |accessdate = 2008-08-09 |publisher =[[Reuters]]}}</ref> However the [[Human Rights Watch]] investigators have called this estimate "suspicious" and "very doubtful", citing actual hospital reports of 273 wounded and 44 dead.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/13/georgia Russia exaggerating South Ossetian death toll, says human rights group Russia exaggerating South Ossetian death toll, says human rights group], ''[[The Guardian]]'', August 13 2008</ref>


The Georgian government said the troops had been sent to end the shelling of Georgian civilians by South Ossetian secessionists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-080808-georgia-ossetia-webaug09,0,4176197.story |title=Georgia invades breakaway South Ossetia province: Russia sends in tanks |publisher=[[Chicago Tribune]] |accessdate=2008-08-14 |date=[[August 8]] [[2008]] |first=Alex |last=Rodriguez }}</ref>
The Georgian government said the troops had been sent to end the shelling of Georgian civilians by South Ossetian secessionists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-080808-georgia-ossetia-webaug09,0,4176197.story |title=Georgia invades breakaway South Ossetia province: Russia sends in tanks |publisher=[[Chicago Tribune]] |accessdate=2008-08-14 |date=[[August 8]] [[2008]] |first=Alex |last=Rodriguez }}</ref>

Revision as of 15:11, 18 August 2008

2008 South Ossetia war
Part of Georgian-Ossetian conflict
and Georgian-Abkhazian conflict

Location of Georgia (including the de facto independent provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia) and the Russian part of North Caucasus
DateAugust 7, 2008 –
Location
Georgia
Result Conflict ongoing, ceasefire currently in effect
Belligerents
Russia Russia
Separatist republics:
South Ossetia South Ossetia
Abkhazia Abkhazia		 Georgia (country) Georgia
Commanders and leaders
South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity
Russia Dmitry Medvedev
Russia Anatoly Khrulyov
Russia Vladimir Shamanov
Russia Marat Kulakhmetov
Russia Vyacheslav Borisov
Russia Sulim Yamadayev
Abkhazia Sergei Bagapsh		 Georgia (country) Mikheil Saakashvili
Georgia (country) Davit Kezerashvili
Georgia (country) Zaza Gogava
Strength
South Ossetia 18,000 including reservists;[1] unknown number of volunteers
Russia Est. at least 15,000 regulars in Georgia (as of 13/07/08),[2] not including support and rear troops (in Russia and on the sea); unknown number of irregulars
Abkhazia 5,000 not including reservists;[3] unknown number of volunteers
More than 38,000 total		 Georgia (country) 37,000 regulars, including 2,000 initially in Iraq;[4] unknown number of conscripted reservists and volunteers;[5] unknown number of Georgian Police deployed after the ceasefire
At least 37,000 total
Casualties and losses

Confirmed by Russia:
South Ossetia Unknown

Russia Killed: 74 troops
Wounded: 171
Missing: 19 [6]
4 aircraft lost[7]
Unknown number of losses among the volunteers
Abkhazia Unknown
Georgian estimates:
400 killed Russian regulars[8]

Confirmed by Georgia:
Georgia (country) Killed: ~200 soldiers (as of 8/10/08)[9]
Health Minister said 175 people died, mainly civilians[10]
Russian estimates:
4,000 casualties[8]

Unknown civilian casualties (Russia initially claimed more than 2,000 civilians were killed in South Ossetia,[11] which the Human Rights Watch investigators called "suspicious" and "very doubtful", citing Tskhinvali hospital reports of 273 wounded and 44 dead.[12])
At least 118,000 civilians displaced, including 56,000 refugees from the Georgian city of Gori and 15,000 Georgian refugees from South Ossetia, according to the United Nations refugee agency.[13][14] According to Russia, 30,000 civilians have fled into Russia from South Ossetia (according to the HRW, some 24,000 of which around half may have returned as armed volunteers).[15][16]

The 2008 South Ossetia war formally began on August 7, 2008 with a military attack by Georgia into South Ossetia, one of two provinces which had declared independence sixteen years previously in 1992.[17] Neither province had found international acceptance of sovereignty. Russian armed forces quickly responded with a large scale counter-attack into South Ossetia, advancing to a significant extent into Georgia proper. A preliminary cease-fire was arranged by the President-in-Office of the European Union, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, on August 12, and signed by Georgia and Russia on August 15, 2008.

The war involves the country of Georgia, the Russian Federation and the breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The war began after a ceasefire agreement between Georgia and South Ossetia broke down, with an escalation of fire exchanges. Georgia then proceeded to launch a major military offensive in South Ossetia.[18] In the following battle, the capital of South Ossetia, Tskhinvali, was heavily damaged. Starting on the 2nd of August and increasing with the intensifying fighting, a stream of refugees from South Ossetia fled into Russian region of North Ossetia, reaching an estimated 24,000 to 30,000 of the 70,000 overall population.[19] 11,190 of them returned after the intervention of Russia in the war.[20] Russia and South Ossetians alleged a civilian death toll of over 2,000 early in the conflict.[21] However the Human Rights Watch investigators have called this estimate "suspicious" and "very doubtful", citing actual hospital reports of 273 wounded and 44 dead.[22]

The Georgian government said the troops had been sent to end the shelling of Georgian civilians by South Ossetian secessionists.[23]

Russia responded the next day by large scale bombardment of Georgian military and civilian targets by sending troops and armor into South Ossetia, quickly driving the Georgian troops out of Tskhinvali. The Russian air attack on the Georgian city of Gori also hit several civilian apartment buildings. Georgian media reported that scores of civilians were killed in the attack.[24] The president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili claims that Russia is attempting to cause a regime change to depose the democraticly elected Georgian Government due to Georgia's close relations with Western nations.[25]

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused Georgia of committing "genocide"[26] 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."[26] The Georgian leader has also appealed to the world for help after accusing Russia of conducting "ethnic cleansing" in his country,[27][28] claiming that it had depopulated the entire South Ossetia region of its Georgian civilians and that almost all Georgian residents of Kodori Valley were expelled by the Abkhaz separatists with the aid of the Russian military.[citation needed] The Georgian side has also filed a lawsuit against Russia in the International Court of Justice, claiming Russia, through the separatist authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, violated a convention meant to eliminate racism. [29]

Background

Main article: Background of the 2008 South Ossetia war
See also: Georgian-Ossetian conflict; South Ossetian independence referendum, 2006; and 2008 Georgia-Russia crisis
Detailed map of the Caucasus region (1994), including locations of economically important energy and mineral resources: South Ossetia has reserves of lead and zinc, Abkhazia has coal, and Georgia has oil, gold, copper, manganese, and coal.

South Ossetia, which has a Georgian ethnic minority of around one fifth (14,000) of the total population (70,000),[30] broke away from Georgia in the 1991–1992 war (in which more than 2,000 people are believed to have died[31]). In a South Ossetian independence referendum, 2006, held by the secessionist government, full independence was supported by 99% of the voters. Georgia accuses Russia of the annexation of its internationally recognized territory and installing a puppet government led by Eduard Kokoity and several officials who previously served in the Russian FSB and Army.[32][33][34][35] Restoring South Ossetia and Abkhazia (a region with a similar separatist movement) to Georgian control has been a goal of Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili since the Rose Revolution.[36]

The majority of the residents of South Ossetia are reportedly Russian citizens holding Russian passports."[37][38] Russian President Medvedev asserts that 90% of South Ossetia residents possess them. Medvedev cited article 80 the Constitution of the Russian Federation, saying, "According to the Constitution, I must protect the life and dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are." Reuters describes the South Ossetian separatist government as "dependent on Russia," which "supplies two thirds of their annual budget," and reports that "Russia's state-controlled gas giant Gazprom is building new gas pipelines and infrastructure" worth hundreds of millions of dollars there.[citation needed]

To build alliance with NATO, Georgia conducted in 2008 a Georgian NATO membership referendum, 2008. The only question of the referendum asked: "Do you want Georgia to become a member of NATO?" According to the official results of Georgia's Central Election Commission, 77% of voters were in favor, and 23% voted against it.[39] However, at the 2008 Bucharest summit, to the great disappointment of Georgia, the alliance did not offer a Membership Action Plan(MAP) to Georgia or Ukraine, largely due to the opposition of Germany, France and other European NATO-members who pointed out that Georgia's territorial integrity was de facto not enforced (namely in Abkhazia and South-Ossetia). However, NATO pledged to review the decision in December 2008.[citation needed] Even though Georgia was not offered a MAP, it officially welcomed the decision and said "The decision to accept that we are going forward to an adhesion to NATO was taken and we consider this is a historic success".[40] Russian President Putin was also pleased about the alliance deciding not to invite Georgia and Ukraine to the Membership Action Plan at least for the time being.[41]

There also also analysts citing Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence as a reason for the Russo-Georgian imbroglio. There were suggestions that South Ossetia and Abkhazia, should they decide to stay as autonomous regions inside Georgia, an international mechanism to oversee negotiations for a referendum should be established. If, on the other hand, they wish to separate they too should be granted that wish and helped to achieve independence. Pope Benedict XVI's words were invoked where he said the strongest pillar in international relations must be reciprocity. In the same vein, using the Kosovo model, this could be achieved elsewhere.[42] Other experts dispute the the relevance of Kosovo, however.[43][44]

Timeline of events

Main article: Timeline of the 2008 South Ossetia war

South Ossetia and Abkhazia are territories within Georgia that individually declared independence from Georgia and have each been acting in de facto independent capacities since the early 1990s. Neither state has been diplomatically recognised by any member of the United Nations. Georgia has offered limited autonomy to South Ossetia and Abkhazia, but both have declined.

Late on August 1, 2008, intense fighting began between Georgian troops and the forces of South Ossetia. Georgia claimed that South Ossetian separatists had shelled Georgian villages in violation of a ceasefire. South Ossetia denied provoking the conflict.[45][11] On August 3, South Ossetians started to evacuate into Russia and on August 5, Russian ambassador Yuri Popov warned that Russia would intervene if conflict erupted.[46][47] On August 7, 2008, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili ordered Georgian troops to ceasefire.[48][49] Despite the declared ceasefire, fighting intensified.[50][51] Hours after the declaration of the ceasefire, in a televised address, Mikheil Saakashvili vowed to restore Tbilisi's control over what he called the "criminal regime" in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and reinforce order.[51]

During the night and early morning, Georgia launched a military offensive to surround and capture the capital of separatist Republic of South Ossetia, Tskhinvali.[52] The heavy shelling left parts of the city in ruins, causing a humanitarian crisis which Russian government sources claimed amounted to genocide. The news of the shelling was extensively covered by Russian media prior to the military reaction that followed, as Russia claimed to have responded in defense of South Ossetians against what they called "a genocide by Georgian forces."[53][11] Russia claimed up to 2,000 dead in Tskhinvali following the shelling.[54] The extent of civilian casualties was later disputed in a number of sources.[55] By morning, Georgia announced that it had surrounded the city and captured eight South Ossetian villages. [56] An independent Georgian TV station announced that Georgian military took control of the city[57]

At Russia’s request, the United Nations Security Council held consultations at 11pm (US EST time), followed by an open meeting at 1.15am (US EST time), with Georgia attending. During consultations, Council members discussed a press statement that called for an end to hostilities. They were unable, however, to come to a consensus. [58]

On August 8 2008, Russia sent troops across the Georgian border, into South Ossetia, to stop Georgia’s offensive against the breakaway territory. In five days of fighting, the Russian forces captured the regional capital Tskhinvali, pushed back Georgian troops, and largely destroyed Georgia’s military infrastructure using airstrikes deep inside the smaller country's territory.[59] Georgia retreated from its offensive in South Ossetia to defend itself.[60]

On August 9, actions on the Black Sea, resulted in one Georgian missile boat being sunk by the Russian Navy. The Russians claimed that the Georgian ships had attacked them earlier. After the skirmish, the remaining Georgian ships fled in defeat. Elsewhere on August 9, a second front was opened by the military of the Republic of Abkhazia in the Kodori Valley, the only region of Abkhazia that was, before the war began, still in effective control of Georgian loyalists. By August 13, all of the remaining Georgian forces, including at least 1500 civilians in the Kodori Valley, had retreated to Georgia proper. [61][62]

On the night of August 11, Russian paratroopers deployed in Abkhazia carried out raids deep inside Georgian territory to destroy military bases from where Georgia could send reinforcements to its troops sealed off in South Ossetia. The Russian military said they were not taking part in the Abkhaz assault on the Georgian forces. Russian forces entered and left the military base near the town of Senaki outside Abkhazia on the 11th, leaving the base there destroyed.[63] The Georgian government also asserted Russian military activity in the port of Poti and the town of Gori. Gori was shelled by the Russians; one shell killed Stan Storimans, a Dutch reporter from the RTL channel. The Daily Telegraph reporters, in Gori on the 12th, did not see any Russian troops in the city. [64] [65] Since Gori is along Georgia's main highway, its occupation by Russian forces would cut Georgia's lines of communication and logistics in two.

Most international observers began calling for a peaceful solution to the conflict.[66] The European Union and the United States expressed a willingness to send a joint delegation to try and negotiate a cease-fire.[67] Russia ruled out peace talks with Georgia until the latter withdrew from South Ossetia and signed a legally binding pact renouncing the use of force against South Ossetia and Abkhazia.[68]

On August 12, 2008, Russian President Medvedev said that he had ordered an end to military operations in Georgia.[69] Georgian Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze said that Russian jets were still targeting civilians.[70] “The status quo in South Ossetia and Abkhazia is no longer possible,” said Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.[59] Later on the same day (August 12), Russian president Medvedev approved a six-point peace plan brokered by President-in-Office of the European Union, Nicolas Sarkozy, in Moscow.[71] Russian troops drove through the port of Poti on the 12th, and took up positions around it.[72]

On August 13, 2008, the Russian tanks were seen at Gori. Russian troops were seen on the road from Gori to Tbilisi, but turned off to the north, about an hour from Tbilisi, and encamped. Georgian troops occupied the road six miles (about 10 km) closer to Tbilisi.[73][74]

On August 14, 2008, there were reports that the Russians occupied Poti; the Russians denied occupation, but the The New York Times claimed that some Russian statements depended on the "technicalities of the definition of occupation". Russian troops attempted to hand Gori back to Georgian authorities, but efforts failed; an attempt to institute joint patrols of Georgian and Russian police in Gori broke down due to apparent discord among personnel.[75][76][77]

On August 15, 2008, Reuters stated that Russian forces had pushed to 34 miles (55 km) from Tbilisi, the closest during the war; they stopped in Igoeti 41°59′22″N 44°25′04″E / 41.98944°N 44.41778°E / 41.98944; 44.41778, an important crossroads. According to the report, 17 APCs and 200 soldiers, including snipers, participated in the advance; the convoy included a military ambulance, and initially, three helicopters.[citation needed]

A Reuters witness said the Russian military convoy advanced to within 55 km (34 miles) of Tbilisi on Friday. That day, United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also travelled to Tbilisi, where Saakashvili signed the 6-point peace plan in her presence.[78][79]

On August 16, The Guardian and the BBC reported that the Russians had occupied Poti, as well as military bases in Gori and Senaki, destroying at least six Georgian ships and seizing large amounts of Georgian weaponry. The general staff of Moscow confirmed [dubious – discuss] that Russia had occupied Poti, as well as military bases in Gori and Senaki. It stated that they were there to "defuse an enormous arsenal of weapons and military hardware which have been discovered in the vicinity of Gori and Senaki without any guard whatsoever."[80][81]

On August 17, the BBC's Richard Galpin, who has spent the past two days travelling from the Black Sea port of Poti to Tbilisi, says Georgian forces seem to be surrendering control of the highway to the Russians. [82] According to BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse, there is a "much-reduced" Russian military presence in Gori and lorries can be seen delivering humanitarian aid. But he says Russian soldiers still control the town's key entry and exit points. The Russian commander of frontline forces in Georgia told the BBC a gradual withdrawal of Russian forces was under way.[83]

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Russian troops would begin pulling back on the following Monday. He said his forces would begin moving toward Georgia's breakaway province of South Ossetia. [84]

Peace plan: Roadmap to end of military hostilities

Ethnic map of the Caucasus from 1995: Ossetians live in North and South Ossetia, as well as in central Georgia.

Demands to end conflict

On August 7 2008, a few hours before Georgia began its main offensive operation, Saakashvili ordered a unilateral ceasefire and called for talks "in any format"; reaffirmed the long-standing offer of full autonomy for South Ossetia; proposed that Russia should guarantee that solution; offered a general amnesty; and pleaded for international intercession to stop the hostilities.[52] On August 10, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin ruled out peace talks with Georgia until it pulled back its forces beyond the borders of South Ossetia and signed a legally binding pact renouncing the use of force against South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another breakaway territory of Georgia.[68]

Ceasefire

On August 11, Russian President Medvedev hinted at an end to the conflict saying, "A significant part of the operation to force the Georgian authorities to make peace in South Ossetia has been concluded," and "Tskhinvali is under the control of a reinforced Russian peacekeeping contingent."[85] Russian Prime Minister Putin added Moscow would take its mission in the region to "a logical conclusion."[86] Later the same day, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili signed an EU-backed ceasefire, but the document was rejected by Moscow.[87] According to a Reuters witness, Georgian troops did not cease fire, as six helicopters attacked Tskhinvali on August 11.[88] An Associated Press reporter saw 135 Russian military vehicles, including tanks, driving toward the Kodori Gorge, held by Georgian forces.[89] The acting Georgian ambassador to Britain told Sky News that Russian jets bombed civilian targets in Georgia despite Moscow's announcement that the war had ended.[90]

On August 12, 2008 at 09:00 UTC Russian president and Russian Army Supreme Commander-in-Chief Dmitry Medvedev stated that the "peace enforcing operation in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone" was over.[91] Later, Russian General Staff Deputy Chief Anatoliy Nogovitsyn said armed actions would stop, but reconnaissance operations would continue.[92]

On August 13, a reporter for the UK The Guardian stated that "the idea there is a ceasefire is ridiculous," and that he could see villages near Gori burning, amidst claims that Chechen, Cossack and Ossetian irregulars were advancing through Georgian villages.[93] CNN reported that journalists in Gori said they had seen no Russian tanks, contrary to claims by the Georgian president.[94] According to Sky News, Georgia's deputy interior minister said "I'd like to calm everybody down. The Russian military is not advancing towards the capital." The same report said "Sky News correspondents Stuart Ramsay and Jason Farrell confirmed there were tanks in Gori, which has suffered extensively from Russian bombing raids"[95] Al Jazeera reported a "continuous build up" of Russian forces in Poti throughout the day, and the destruction of several Georgian vessels.[96] Russia's deputy chief of General Staff Colonel-General Anatoliy Nogovitsyn said sporadic clashes continued in South Ossetia between Georgian snipers and Russian troops. "We must respond to provocations," he said.[97]

EU-brokered six-point peace plan

File:Medvedev,Bagapsh,Kokoity.jpg
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev with Eduard Kokoity (South Ossetia) and Sergei Bagapsh (Abkhazia) shortly before the signing of the Six Principles. (August 14, 2008)

On August 12, Russian President Medvedev met the President-in-Office of the European Union, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and approved a six-point peace plan. Late that night Georgian President Saakashvili agreed to the text.[98][71][99] Sarkozy's plan originally had just the first four points. Russia added the fifth and sixth points. Georgia asked for the additions in parentheses, but Russia rejected them, and Sarkozy convinced Georgia to agree to the unchanged text.[98]

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 UN and the OSCE).

According to RIA Novosti, "Sarkozy told a briefing after talks with his Georgian counterpart that the deal also includes some changes requested by Georgia... 'we have removed the issue of South Ossetia's status from the document'".[100] But the The New York Times, citing a Georgian negotiator, reported that Sarkozy convinced Georgia to accept the Russian version unchanged, after Medvedev waited two hours to return his phone call and then rejected the proposed changes. The U.S. newspaper further asserted that the fifth point was crucial, and Russia used it to justify continuing hostilities into Georgia proper after the agreement.[98] The International Herald Tribune reported on August 15, 2008, that the agreement included a letter from Sarkozy, clarifying a provision that allowed Russia a continued military presence outside the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, said Giga Bokeria, Georgia's deputy foreign minister. The letter stated that Russia's permission to to conduct continued security operations in Georgia does not extend to populated areas or the main east-west highway that is the country's lifeline, Bokeria said. [101]

On August 14, Medvedev met with South Ossetia President Eduard Kokoity and Abkhazia President Sergei Bagapsh, where they signed the six principles.[102]

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe has 200 military observers in the area and is preparing to send 100 more to monitor the ceasefire.[103][104] There have been difficulties with delivering humanitarian aid to the area, because OSCE personnel are blocked access into Tshinvali or Gori by Russian forces and various irregulars, according to the head of the OSCE mission to Georgia.[105]

Infrastructure damage

1993 map showing the defence industries of Georgia at the time: Tbilaviamsheni, an aircraft assembly plant in Tbilisi which was bombed during the war,[106] and component plants in other cities.

Georgia claimed Russia had bombed airfields and civil and economic infrastructure, including the Black Sea port of Poti. Between eight and eleven Russian jets reportedly hit container tanks and a shipbuilding plant at the port.[107][108] Reuters reported an attack on the civilian Tbilisi International Airport, though Russia claimed otherwise.[109][110] Georgian State Minister for Reintegration Temur Iakobashvili also denied this, reportedly stating, "There was no attack on the airport in Tbilisi. It was a factory that produces combat airplanes."[106]

Russia's military claimed the retreating Georgian forces have mined civilian infrastructure in South Ossetia.[111]

Humanitarian impact

South Ossetians

On August 8, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) urged the combatants to make a humanitarian corridor to evacuate the wounded and civilians from Tskhinvali.[21][18] The fighting interrupted electricity and telephone service in Tskhinvali, and some inhabitants sheltered in basements[112] with no access to water or medicines.[113] Russian media reported on August 9 that several journalists were hiding in the basements, as they appealed to world society for a peace corridor to let them out of Tskhinvali.[114][115] On August 10, the Russian Ambassador in Tbilisi claimed that "at least 2,000" people had been killed, and the chief of Russian ground forces said that the Georgian shelling has destroyed "all the hospitals" in Tskhinvali [116] According to western media who arrived in the city and were toured by the Russian military on August 12, "[s]everal residential areas seemed to have little damage", while the heaviest hit appeared to be buildings in and near the government district.[117]

However, it turned out that the city hospital, which was hit in the roof by a single Grad rocket, did not collapse at all; the Grad rocket damaged part of the second and third floors. Hospital, whose outer walls were also hit by either small arms fire or shrapnel, continued to operate in the building's basement until August 13, when all the wounded (of which 273 were admitted in during the fighting) were evacuated to Russia.[117][118] From August 8 to 13, the hospital treated 273 wounded, both military and civilians. 44 bodies had been brought to the hospital; these represented the majority of Ossetians killed in Tskhinvali, because the city morgue was not functioning due to the lack of electricity.[118] On August 14, South Ossetian separatists claimed they have identified 200 corpses of South Ossetian civilians, saying that 500 are missing; at the same time, Russian investigators said they had identified a total of 60 civilians killed during the fighting.[119]

The UN refugee agency, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said that thousands of refugees left South Ossetia, mostly for North Ossetia-Alania in Russia within the first days of the conflict.[120] On August 10, Human Rights Watch (HRW) obtained official figures on the number of displaced persons tallied by the Russian government agency in Vladikavkaz, according to which, the Federal Migration Service registered 24,032 persons who crossed the border from South Ossetia into Russia. However, 11,190 of those went back after the Russian intervention in the war; the government stated that “the overall number [of the displaced] was decreasing because of the people who return to join to volunteer militias of South Ossetia”; furthermore, the figures cannot be considered accurate, as many people cross the border back and forth and thus get registered two or more times.[121] On August 15, UNHCR, relying on figures provided by Georgian and Russian officials, said at least 30,000 South Ossetians have fled across the border into North Ossetia.[122] On August 16, Russia put this number at over 10,000 refugees.[123]

HRW entered the mostly deserted Tskhinvali on August 13 and reported that it saw numerous apartment buildings and houses damaged by shelling. It said some of them had been hit by "inherently indiscriminate" weapons that should not be used in areas populated by civilians, such as rockets most likely fired from BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers. Since Georgian and Russian forces use identical Soviet-era weapons systems including Grad rockets, HRW couldn't definitely attribute specific battle damage to a particular belligerent, but witness accounts and the timing of the damage would point to Georgian fire accounting for much of the damage.[118]

On August 18, South Ossetians alleged that they "estimate 500 Ossetian civilians were kidnapped and taken away by Georgian forces from the south of Tskhinvali".[124] Georgian government answered: "They want to exchange [Georgian hostages] for our hostages. The problem is we don't have any hostages so we can't do any exchange."[125]

Georgians

Most refugees in the conflict are ethnic Georgians. Before the war started, one estimate of the population of Georgians living in South Ossetia was 18,000 people, or one quarter of the population of the break-away republic.[126] On August 15, UNHCR said that up to 15,000 ethnic Georgians have fled into the other parts of Georgia from South Ossetia.[127] In addition, as of August 15, some 73,000 people were displaced in Georgia proper (most of them from the city Gori); many also fled from Abkhazia.[13] Most had no possessions with them, save for the clothes they were wearing when they fled, and were crammed into makeshift centres without even basic amenities.[128]

Between August 9 and August 12, residential districts and a media center in the Georgian city of Gori were attacked by Russian Air Force, including by cluster bombs on August 12, killing and injuring numerous civilians (including several journalists, among them the Dutch cameraman Stan Storimans who died).[129][130][131] On August 15, HRW said it had collected evidence of Russian warplanes using cluster bombs; the international rights group urged Russia to stop using the weapons, which 107 nations have agreed to outlaw.[132][133] On the same day, Russian General Nogovitsyn claimed: "We never use cluster bombs. There is no need to do so."[134] During the final strikes, an air-to-ground missile smashed into the Gori hospital with deadly effect.[128]

On August 10, Georgia charged that ethnic cleansing of Georgians was occurring behind Russian lines.[135] On August 12, HRW (U.S. organization and source) researchers in South Ossetia claimed that they witnessed at least four ethnic Georgian villages still burning from fires set by South Ossetian militias and witnessed looting by the militias. A HRW researcher said that "the remaining residents of these destroyed ethnic Georgian villages are facing desperate conditions, with no means of survival, no help, no protection, and nowhere to go."[136] On August 13, an interviewed South Ossetian officer said that the separatist forces "burned these houses (...) to make sure that they [the Georgians] can’t come back." HRW also learned from an Ossetian officer about the summary execution of a Georgian combatant, and that the looters, who were "everywhere" in the Georgian villages in South Ossetia, have been "now moving to Gori".[118]

On August 12, Associated Press (AP, U.S. source) journalists toured by the Russian military through Tskhinvali claimed that they witnessed numerous fires in what appeared to be deserted ethnic Georgian neighborhoods and saw evidence of looting in those areas; they said that while a Russian army officer touring claimed said some of the buildings had been burning for days from the fighting, in fact none of the houses was burning before more than 24 hours after the battle for the city was over.[117] By August 14, already after the official ceasefire, many international media outlets reported Georgian government and refugee stories that Ossetian and often also other pro-Russian irregulars (including reports of Cossack and Chechen paramilitaries, and even some Russian regular soldiers) were looting and burning Georgian villages in South Ossetia and near Gori.[137][138][139][140][93][141][142] Some of the emerging stories featured reports of atrocities, including kidnapping, rape and indiscriminate murder. These reports could not be independently confirmed; as BBC News summed it up on August 14, "The testimonies of those who have fled villages around South Ossetia are consistent, but with all roads blocked and the Russian military now in charge of the area, the scale of alleged reprisal killings and lootings is difficult to verify."[143] The new waves of Georgian refugees bringing reports of the widespread pillage and "revenge" killings in the territories occupied by the Russian forces kept coming over the next days.[144][145][146][147][148][149][150]

On August 13, Russian interior minister Rashid Nurgaliev said there would be "decisive and tough" measures taken against looters;[136] according to Russia's Interfax, two looters were executed by firing squad in South Ossetia.[151] Nevertheless, on August 15, The Daily Telegraph (British source) reporter witnessed South Ossetian irregulars continuing to loot and pillage around Gori, often with the encouragement of Russian troops, including a Russian officer shouting to "take whatever you want."[152] On the same day, Major General Vyacheslav Borisov, the Russian commander in Georgia, was quoted as saying that "now Ossetians are running around and killing poor Georgians in their enclaves."[153] Also on August 15, the Russia-allied president Eduard Kokoity of South Ossetia, in the interview for Kommersant, officially acknowledged that the alleged ethnic cleansing of South Ossetia was in fact committed against ethnic Georgians, saying that his forces "offered them a corridor and gave the peaceful population the chance to leave" and that the Ossetians "do not intend to allow" their return.[154][155]

Russian (Novaya Gazeta) and British (The Sunday Times) journalists embedded with the Russian and Ossetian forces reported that irregulars are abusing and executing Georgian soldiers and suspects captured during the "mopping-up operations" in South Ossetia and beyond.[156][148]

On August 16, an AP (American news agency) reporter witnessed groups of Georgian forced laborers in Tskhinvali under armed guard of Ossetians and Russians; South Ossetia's interior minister Mikhail Mindzayev acknowledged this, saying that the Georgians "are cleaning up after themselves."[157] British source The Independent reported that around 40 Georgian civilian captives, mostly elderly men, were "paraded" through the city and abused by South Ossetians.[128] On August 18, South Ossetian leaders put the number of the hostages at more than 130, roughly half of them women and mostly former Georgian guest workers.[125][124] The kidnapping of civilians by warring parties is a war crime according to the Article 3 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.[124]

On August 18, 2008 Russian column of auto vehicles with humanitarian help arrived to Georgian city of Gori. The humanitarian help includes 50 tons of bottle water, macaroni, sugar, flour, canned goods and medicaments. The goods were sent from Russian Moscow, Kaliningrad and Tula regions. The initiator of sending the humanitarian help to Georgian city was Russian Orthodox Church.[158]

Aid and reconstruction

Main article: Humanitarian response to the 2008 South Ossetia war

On August 9, Russian Prime Minister Putin promised to spend at least 10 bln rubles (approx. $420 million USD) to reconstruct the infrastructure and facilities in South Ossetia.[159][159] On August 13, United States President George W. Bush said the U.S. would send humanitarian aid to Georgia. A U.S. military cargo plane arrived in Georgia that day.[160][161][162] Another military plane will arrive in Tbilisi with "104,000 doses of antibiotics requested by the Georgian Ministry of Health." The two shipments are together valued at $1.28 million.[163] Several countries including Canada, Germany, France, Spain have declared to send aid.[164][165][166]

Reactions to the conflict

International reactions

Main article: International reaction to the 2008 South Ossetia war
See also: Protests regarding 2008 South Ossetia war

Russia faced strong criticism from western democracies especially the US where Vice President Dick Cheney stated "Russian aggression must not go unanswered, and that its continuation would have serious consequences for its relations with the United States, as well as the broader international community."[167]

Financial market reaction

The effect of the war on the Russian financial markets was first noticed on the stock market benchmark index RTS which fell 6% by 8 August 2008 at 12:45 GMT in its lowest level (1,732.26) since May 2007, including blue chips such as Lukoil Holdings shares, and Russian analysts expect the fall to continue for some time but then to rise upwards again, recovering losses.[168] The Russian ruble also fell by 1% relative to a basket of currencies.[169]

The Georgian financial markets also suffered negative consequences as Fitch Ratings lowered Georgia's debt ratings from BB- to B+, commenting that there are increased risks to Georgian sovereign creditworthiness, while Standard and Poor's also lowered Georgian credit ratings.[170]

Map of Baku-Supsa and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipelines through Georgia

While Georgia has no significant oil or gas reserves on its own, it is an important transit route that supplies the West, and journalists expressed fear that the war may damage the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, 30% of which is owned by BP.[171] The BTC pipeline was shut down before the conflict because of the blast in Turkey on 6 August 2008[clarification needed], and the war created further problems for the operating company.[172] Georgia claims Russia is targeting the pipeline.[173] On 8 August 2008, Russian air forces devastated the port of Poti, which the Georgian government calls "a key port for the transportation of energy sources," close to the Baku-Supsa pipeline and the Supsa oil terminal.[174] On 12 August 2008, BP, an operator of the main pipelines through Georgia, closed the BTC pipeline, the Baku-Supsa Pipeline and the South Caucasus Pipeline for the safety reasons.[175] Gas supplies through the South Caucasus Pipeline were resumed on 14 August 2008.[176]

The price of oil was not negatively affected by these events, on 8 August 2008 light sweet crude for September delivery settled down $4.82 to $115.20 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.[177]

Allegations of media bias

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin accused foreign media[needs update] of pro-Georgian bias in their coverage of the ongoing conflict between Georgia and Russia over breakaway South Ossetia. "We want television screens in the West to be showing not only Russian tanks, and texts saying Russia is at war in South Ossetia and with Georgia, but also to be showing the suffering of the Ossetian people, the murdered elderly people and children, the destroyed towns of South Ossetia, and Tskhinvali. This would be an objective way of presenting the material," he said in a statement to Russian news agencies. Current Western media coverage of the events in the separatist republic is "a politically motivated version" in the eyes of government officials.[178] Other western media editors disagreed with this view, however, with the Washington Post arguing that Moscow was engaging in "mythmaking".[179]

On August 11, 2008, the government-funded Russia Today TV channel accused CNN of presenting video footage made by Russia Today in South Ossetia as pictures of bombed Gori.[180] The Western media has defended its coverage, with Chris Birkett, executive editor of Sky News saying: "I don't think there’s been a bias. Accusations of media bias are normal in times of war. We’ve been so busy with the task of newsgathering and deployment that the idea we've managed to come up with a conspiratorial line in our reporting is bananas." CNN has also defended its coverage.[181]

William Dunbar, a reporter for Russia Today in Georgia, resigned in protest of bias in the Russian media. He claimed he had not been on air since he mentioned Russian bombing of targets inside Georgia. He told The Moscow Times: "The real news, the real facts of the matter, didn't conform to what they were trying to report, and therefore, they wouldn't let me report it. I felt that I had no choice but to resign."[181] However one senior journalist from Russia Today called Dunbar's allegations of bias "nonsense". "The Russian coverage I have seen has been much better than much of the Western coverage,” he said, adding, "My view is that Russia Today is not particularly biased at all. When you look at the Western media, there is a lot of genuflection towards the powers that be. Russian news coverage is largely pro-Russia, but that is to be expected."

HRW called the Russian death toll figure of 2,000 unfounded, citing a doctor who said that between August 6 to 12 the hospital treated 273 wounded, more military than civilian. The doctor also said that 44 bodies had been brought to the hospital since the fighting began, both military and civilian. According to HRW, "the doctor was adamant that the majority of people killed in the city had been brought to the hospital before being buried".[182]Anna Neistat, leader of a HRW team investigating the humanitarian damage in South Ossetia, told The Guardian that[183]

HRW investigators had... recorded cases of Ossetian fighters burning and looting Georgian villages north of the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali. "The torching of houses in these villages is in some ways a result of the massive Russia propaganda machine which constantly repeats claims of genocide and exaggerates the scale of casualties... That is then used to justify retribution."

BBC News world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds filed a story on August 15 citing the reports of refugee Ossetians in Russia and a Human Rights Watch report describing much of the damage in Tskhinvali as due to Georgian fire in concluding that the the Georgian attack into South Ossetian on 7 August was being "played down" contrary to the "evidence". Reynolds called attention to what he considered exaggerated Georgian claims and the fact most of the western media is based in Georgia is his story about how "mud" thrown in the "propaganda war" "stuck" to Russia: "the Bush administration appears to be trying to turn a failed military operation by Georgia into a successful diplomatic operation against Russia.[184]

Cyberattacks and censorship

South Ossetian officials stated that two Ossetian news media sites were attacked. Dmitry Medoyev, the South Ossetian secessionist envoy in Moscow, claimed that Georgia was trying to cover up reports of deaths.[185]

The National Bank of Georgia website was defaced and replaced with a gallery of 20th century dictators, with Saakashvili added. Georgian news portals were under Internet denial-of-service attacks and reportedly the site of the Georgian Ministry of Defense was attacked as well. The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs site was defaced and replaced with a collage of Saakashvili and Adolf Hitler photos.[186] According to the The New York Times, Georgian websites crashed frequently on 8 August.[187]

Estonian media claimed that the attacks are similar in nature to the 2007 cyberattacks on Estonia and were carried out with the same techniques.[188] Estonian authorities have pledged to provide Georgia assistance in cyber-warfare. Estonia has sent to Georgia two specialists in information security from the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) Estonia, and Georgia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website is currently hosted on Estonian server.[189][verification needed] The Office of the President of Poland has provided the website for dissemination of information and helped to get access to the Internet for Georgia's government after breakdowns of local servers caused by cyberattacks.[190]

Georgia had stopped broadcasting Russian television channels across the country.[191] Web sites hosted on domains with addresses ending in .ru “were briefly blocked” from Georgia.[192] Some pro-Russian sites in other zones were also reported to be blocked.[193] Both actions were taken due to Georgia's belief that Russia was conducting an information war.

RIA Novosti news agency's website was disabled for several hours on August 10 by a series of computer cracker attacks. "The DNS-servers and the site itself have been coming under severe attack," said Maxim Kuznetsov, head of the RIA Novosti IT department.[194] On August 11, Russia Today TV stated: "In the course of the last 24 hours RT’s website (www.russiatoday.com) has endured numerous DDoS attacks, which have made it unavailable for some time. Channel’s security specialists say the initial attack was carried out from an IP-address registered in the Georgian capital Tbilisi.[195]

The Russian internet news source, Gazeta.ru, reported that the Fox News channel cut off an American-Ossetian girl, Amanda Kokoeva, after she stated that she was attacked by Georgian Forces and saved by the Russian Troops, while the people accustomed to Fox programmes said that such commercial cut-offs are not out of order there.[196] This was also confirmed earlier by several internet blogs and forums.[197] The video also allegedly experienced multiple problems with the counters available on YouTube.[197][196] The video rating and view count are not being updated and new comments are being deleted, according to some sources.[197] Gazeta.ru stated, "... the counter was at 347,000. At midday the view count on YouTube, fell without any sort of explanation to 45,747."[196] However the counter was seen being reset, and stopping at around 4000. As of August 16th the counter, seems to be up and running again. The reasons for the counter freezes remain unclear.

Combatants

See also: Military of Georgia and Military of Russia

Military equipment

Georgian, Russian and South Ossetian forces are equipped with predominantly Soviet-made weapons, in particular, Sukhoi Su-25 attack aircraft,[198] T-55 and T-72 tanks, and AK-74 rifles; however, Georgia has recently also been acquiring some western-made weaponry, including the UH-1 Iroquois helicopters and M4 Carbine rifles from the United States, 152mm SpGH DANA self-propelled guns and RM-70 Multiple rocket launchers from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Turkish Otokar Cobra armored vehicles, and German Heckler & Koch G36 and Israeli IMI Tavor TAR-21 rifles. Ukraine has supplied Georgia with many weapons, reportedly including AA missiles and small arms.[199]

Georgian order of battle

In the combat for Tskhinvali, Georgia reportedly committed several infantry battalions supported by 82 T-72 tanks and artillery.[37] [200] The Georgian Air Force has also been engaged in the conflict.[201] Following the Russian response, Georgia recalled all 2,000 of its troops that had been stationed in Iraq. The troops and their equipment were transported by the United States Air Force using C-17 Globemaster aircraft.[202]

Russian order of battle

South Ossetian Sector

Abkhazian Sector

Air support

  • Fighter, attack, bomber and reconnaissance aircrafts of 4th Air Army[1] (acting over South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Georgia)
  • Unnamed transport aviation units used for air-lift of units of 76th and 98th Airborne Divisions, Spetsnaz of 45th Detached Reconnaissance Regiment to South Ossetia and unnamed units of VDV to Abkhazia

Other

  • OTR-21 Tochka/SS-21 short-range ballistic missiles[209]
  • Russian news services, notably RTR Planeta,[210] have reported wide-scoped assembly of Ossetian Narodnoe Opolcheniye being joined by volunteers from the Vladikavkaz region and other parts of Russia. The groups being formed at "various locations" are reported to range from "tens" to "hundreds." The members of these groups as shown on video reports are identified by white armbands, but appear to be otherwise clothed and equipped predominantly in Russian Army issue camouflage clothing and firearms. One such group in the Northern Ossetia has been formed on the Staff of North Ossetia okrug Cossack Voisko (Russian: штаб североосетинского округа казачьего войска).[211]

References

  1. ^ a b Krasnogir, Sergey (8 August 2008). "Расстановка сил" (in Russian). Lenta.Ru. Retrieved 2008-08-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) (Google Translate.)
  2. ^ 15,000 Russian troops in Georgia, U.S. administration officials say, CNN, August 13, 2008
  3. ^ 5,000 without reservists, potential of 45,000 according to the Problems of the unrecognised states in the former USSR: South Caucasus by David Petrosyan; 5,000 without reservists, potential of 45,000 according to the "Caucasian-style militarism" article of the Nezavisimaya Gazeta
  4. ^ Comparative size of Russian, Georgian armed forces, Associated Press, Aug 10, 2:13 p.m. ET
  5. ^ "Zugdidi w rękach Rosjan" (in Polish). Rzeczpospolita. Retrieved 2008-08-11. (Google Translate.)
  6. ^ "74 Russian Soldiers Killed in S.Ossetia - Report", Sofia News Agency, Novinite.com, August 13, 2008.
  7. ^ Российские самолеты были сбиты украинскими расчетами ПВО, Lenta.ru, 16:48:11
  8. ^ a b "Saakashvili on Military Aspects of Conflict," Ciliv.ge, 2008-08-13.
  9. ^ Georgia withdraws troops from South Ossetia capital, CNN, 10 August 2008
  10. ^ 175 dead in Georgia unrest: health minister, AFP, 13.08.2008
  11. ^ a b c Security Council holds third emergency meeting as South Ossetia conflict intensifies, expands to other parts of Georgia, United Nations Security Council, 10 Aug 2008
  12. ^ Russia exaggerating South Ossetian death toll, says human rights group, The Guardian, August 13 2008
  13. ^ a b UNHCR secures safe passage for Georgians fearing further fighting, UNHCR, August 15 2008
  14. ^ Template:Pl icon 100 tys. przemieszczonych z powodu konfliktu w Gruzji, Polska Agencja Prasowa, 12.08.2008
  15. ^ ""Human Rights Watch Counts South Ossetian Casualties, Displaced". Deutsche Welle. 11 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ Roots of Georgia-Russia clash run deep, The Christian Science Monitor, August 12, 2008
  17. ^ [1]
  18. ^ a b Red Cross needs corridor for wounded in S. Ossetia, Associated Press, August 8, 2008 Cite error: The named reference "google1" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  19. ^ U.N.: 115,000 displaced by Georgia conflict, CNN, August 15, 2008
  20. ^ North Ossetia: Georgia/Russia: Update on Casualties and Displaced Civilians, Human Rights Watch, August 10, 2008
  21. ^ a b "South Ossettia leader says over 2,000 killed in conflict". Reuters. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "ind" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  22. ^ Russia exaggerating South Ossetian death toll, says human rights group Russia exaggerating South Ossetian death toll, says human rights group, The Guardian, August 13 2008
  23. ^ Rodriguez, Alex (August 8 2008). "Georgia invades breakaway South Ossetia province: Russia sends in tanks". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-08-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ Scores of Civilians Dead in Gori Bombing - Reports
  25. ^ CNN.com/Europe: Russia trying to crush democracy, Georgia leader says
  26. ^ a b "Day-by-day: Georgia-Russia crisis". BBC. 2008-08-14. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
  27. ^ Russia Accused Of Ethnic Cleansing, Sky News, August 14, 2008
  28. ^ Russian troops advance in Georgia, BBC News, 12 August 2008
  29. ^ [2]
  30. ^ Associated Press (2008-08-08). "Facts about South Ossetia". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2008-08-10. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  31. ^ "We are at war with Russia, declares Georgian leader". The Independent. 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2008-08-09. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  32. ^ Template:Ru icon «Осетины не имеют никакого желания защищать режим Кокойты», Svoboda News, 2008-08-08
  33. ^ Template:Ru icon Войсками Южной Осетии командует бывший пермский военком генерал-майор, UralWeb.ru, 11 August 2008
  34. ^ Template:Ru icon Миндзаев, Михаил: Министр внутренних дел непризнанной республики Южная Осетия, Lenta.Ru, 17.08.2008
  35. ^ Georgia blames Russia of a territorial annexation, Utro, January 18, 2005
  36. ^ "Saakashvili: Returning of Abkhazia is the main goal of Georgia".
  37. ^ a b "Russian tanks enter South Ossetia". BBC. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  38. ^ "Opinion: A Ruso-Georgian Media War in South Ossetia". Deutsche Welle. 2008-08-09.
  39. ^ Plebiscite., Civil Georgia, January 11, 2008
  40. ^ NATO Summit Bucharest 2008
  41. ^ "Vladimir Putin tells summit he wants security and friendship". The Times. April 5, 2008. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  42. ^ [3]
  43. ^ Experts: South Ossetia, Abkhazia Have No Right to Secede Deutsche Welle
  44. ^ Q & A on Georgia NY Times
  45. ^ Six Die in S.Ossetia Shootout, Civil Georgia, 2 August 2008. (Google cache)
  46. ^ "Talking Through Gritted Teeth". Transitions Online. 2008-08-06. BBC Monitoring
  47. ^ "Russia vows to defend S Ossetia". BBC News. 2008-08-05.
  48. ^ "Georgia orders ceasefire in rebel region, calls for talks". AFP. 2008-08-07.
  49. ^ "Georgia and South Ossetia announce ceasefire". RussiaToday. 2008-08-07.
  50. ^ "S Ossetia fights Georgian troops out of occupied height". Itar-Tass. 2008-08-06.
  51. ^ a b "Heavy fighting in South Ossetia". BBC News. 2008-08-08.
  52. ^ a b The goals behind Moscow's Proxy Offensive in South Ossetia, The Jamestown Foundation, August 8, 2008 Cite error: The named reference "Jamestown Goals" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  53. ^ "Medvedev, Putin accuse Georgia of genocide".
  54. ^ "'2,000 dead' in conflict between Georgia and Russia". Channel 4. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  55. ^ WSJ Evidence in Georgia Belies Russia's Claims of 'Genocide' retrieved on August 15, 2008
  56. ^ "Heavy fighting as Georgia attacks rebel region". AFP. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  57. ^ "Georgia starts military operations in South Ossetia". APA. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  58. ^ "UN Security Counsil Update Report". UN Security Counsil Report. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  59. ^ a b "The Hindu : International : Status quo not possible: Moscow". Retrieved 2008-08-13.
  60. ^ "Georgia Pulls Out Troops from Iraq amid 'Russian Aggression'". Civil Georgia. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  61. ^ "Georgian troops leave Abkhazia, Russians in Gori". Associated Press. 2008-08-13. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  62. ^ "Abkhaz Open "Second Front"". Institute for War & Peace Reporting. 2008-08-14. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  63. ^ Russian Forces Capture Military Base in Georgia, The New York Times, August 11, 2008
  64. ^ Blomfield, Adrian (2008-08-12). "Russians shells Gori despite claims Georgia conflict is over - Telegraph". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-08-13. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  65. ^ Blomfield, Adrian (2008-08-12). "Georgia: Chaos and panic as people flee the Russian advance -". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
  66. ^ Kendall, Bridget (2008-08-10). "Western words fall on deaf Russian ears". BBC News. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  67. ^ La Géorgie et la Russie s'affrontent pour le contrôle de l'Ossétie du Sud. Le Monde. 9 August 2008
  68. ^ a b "The Hindu : Front Page : Georgia pulls out forces". Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  69. ^ "Russia Orders Halt in Georgia as Fighting Continues". The New York Times. 2008-08-12. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  70. ^ Georgia: bombs fall after Russian halt order, Reuters, August 12, 2008.
  71. ^ a b "Russia 'backs Georgia peace plan'". BBC News. 2008-08-12. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  72. ^ Russia, in Accord With Georgians, Sets Withdrawal, The New York Times, August 13, 2008, retrieved August 15
  73. ^ Bush, Sending Aid, Demands That Moscow Withdraw, The New York Times, August 13, 2008
  74. ^ Russian feint toward Tbilisi shows truce fragile, Associated Press, Aug 13, 4:27 PM EDT
  75. ^ Russia Vows to Support Two Enclaves, in Retort to Bush, The New York Times, August 14, 2008
  76. ^ Russia: 'Forget' Georgian territorial integrity, Associated Press, Aug 17, 7:52 AM EDT
  77. ^ Russian tanks deter Georgian entry to Gori, Associated Press, August 15, 2008
  78. ^ Kilner, James (2008-08-15). "Russian convoy moves deeper inside Georgia: witness". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  79. ^ Alexander, David (2008-08-15). "Georgia signs peace deal, West condemns Russia". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  80. ^ Traynor, Ian (2008-08-16). "Six days that broke one country - and reshaped the world order". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-08-16. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  81. ^ Galpin, Richard (2008-08-16). "Russia in control and on the move". BBC News. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  82. ^ (BBC)
  83. ^ Russia pledge on Georgia pull-out BBC Retrieved on 17-08-08
  84. ^ Russia to start Georgia pullout on Monday CBC Retrieved on 17-08-08
  85. ^ "Russia's Medvedev: Operation in S. Ossetia near conclusion - Israel News, Ynetnews". Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  86. ^ Meikle, James. "Russian troops advance into Georgia". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-08-11. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  87. ^ "BBC NEWS". BBC News. 2008-08-11. Retrieved 2008-08-11. {{cite web}}: Text "Europe" ignored (help); Text "Russian troops in Georgia advance" ignored (help)
  88. ^ {Georgian helicopters bomb S.Ossetia targets-witness, Reuters, Aug 11, 2008
  89. ^ Dozens of Russian vehicles head toward key gorge, Associated Press, 12 August 2008
  90. ^ Georgia 'Still Being Bombed', Sky News, 2008-08-12
  91. ^ "Медведев объявил о завершении операции по принуждению к миру" (in Russian). Lenta.Ru. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  92. ^ "Завершение операции не помешает российским военным вести разведку в Грузии" (in Russian). Lenta.Ru. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  93. ^ a b Georgian villages burned and looted as Russian tanks advance", The Guardian, August 14 2008
  94. ^ Reports: Russians moving deeper into Georgia, CNN, August 13, 2008
  95. ^ Tanks 'Not Heading For Tbilisi'
  96. ^ "Russian forces sink Georgian ships", Al Jazeera.
  97. ^ Russian convoy heads into Georgia, violating truce, Associated Press, Aug 17, 7:58 AM EDT
  98. ^ a b c Kramer, Andrew E. (2008-08-13). "Peace Plan Offers Russia a Rationale to Advance". The New York Times. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help) The translation of the six points is by the Times, from a French language document provided by a Georgian negotiator.
  99. ^ "Russia Endorses Six-Point Plan," Civil.ge, 2008-08-12.
  100. ^ "Georgia, Russia agree to French-brokered peace plan". Moscow News. RIA Novosti. 2008-08-13. "At the request of the Georgian side, we introduced a number of amendments, which we twice discussed on the telephone with Russian President Medvedev. So we have removed the issue of South Ossetia's status from the document," [Sarkozy] said.
  101. ^ IHT, August 15, 2008
  102. ^ [4]
  103. ^ OSCE press release 14 August 2008. http://www.osce.org/item/32576.html
  104. ^ Alexander Stubb's (Chairman of OSCE) blog, 14 August 2008. http://www.alexstubb.com/fi/index.php?trg=diary&id=1175
  105. ^ [5]
  106. ^ a b "Jewish Georgian minister: Thanks to Israeli training, we're fending off Russia". Haaretz. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  107. ^ "Georgia: Russia enters into 'war' in South Ossetia". Telegraph.
  108. ^ "WRAPUP 1-Russia, Georgia battle in South Ossetia". Reuters.
  109. ^ "Tbilisi civilian airport hit in Russian air strike". Reuters. 2008-08-10. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  110. ^ "МВД Грузии сообщает об ударе российской авиации по тбилисскому аэропорту, минобороны России упрекает его в "информационных провокациях"". NEWSru.com.
  111. ^ Template:Ru icon Грузинские войска при отходе из Южной Осетии заминировали гражданские объекты, Interfax, August 15, 2008
  112. ^ "South Ossetia clashes intensify". BBC. 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  113. ^ "Fighting escalates in Russia, Georgia conflict (w/video)". Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  114. ^ "Журналисты в Цхинвали призывают мир открыть гуманитарный коридор - Новости России - ИА REGNUM".
  115. ^ "Новая Газета Лента событий". {{cite web}}: Text "Южная Осетия. Журналисты, находящиеся в Цхинвали, взывают о помощи" ignored (help)
  116. ^ Death toll in South Ossetia reaches 2,000 Russia Today
  117. ^ a b c Heavy damage in Tskhinvali, mostly at gov't center, Associated Press, August 12, 2008
  118. ^ a b c d Russia/Georgia: Investigate Civilian Deaths: High Toll from Attacks on Populated Areas, Human Rights Watch, August 14, 2008
  119. ^ Russians launch 'genocide' enquiry, Agence France Press, August 14 2008
  120. ^ "Security Council meets again to discuss violence in South Ossetia, Georgia". Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  121. ^ North Ossetia: Georgia/Russia: Update on Casualties and Displaced Civilians, Human Rights Watch, August 10, 2008
  122. ^ U.N.: 115,000 displaced by Georgia conflict, CNN, August 15, 2008
  123. ^ Cases of killing, genocide in SOssetia united in single legal action, Itar-Tass, August 16, 2008.
  124. ^ a b c Georgians held hostage by South Ossetia, The Daily Telegraph, 18 Aug 2008
  125. ^ a b South Ossetia holds civilian Georgians hostage, The Guardian, August 18 2008
  126. ^ Template:Ru icon Кокойты не пустит грузинских беженцев обратно в Осетию, Lenta.ru, 15 August 2008
  127. ^ Georgia: UN continues to press for humanitarian access to victims, United Nations, 15 August 2008
  128. ^ a b c The new Cold War: Crisis in the Caucasus , The Independent, 17 August 2008
  129. ^ Russian jets attack Georgian town, BBC News, 9 August 2008
  130. ^ Georgia conflict: Screams of the injured rise from residential streets, The Telegraph, 10 Aug 2008
  131. ^ Russia/Georgia: Investigate Civilian Deaths: High Toll from Attacks on Populated Areas, Human Rights Watch, August 14, 2008
  132. ^ Georgia: Russian Cluster Bombs Kill Civilians, Human Rights Watch, August 14 2008
  133. ^ Group: Russians drop cluster bombs in Georgia, CNN, August 15, 2008
  134. ^ Russia "used cluster bombs" in Georgia - rights group, Reuters, Aug 15, 2008
  135. ^ Owen, Elizabeth (2008-08-10). "Georgian Troops Withdraw From South Ossetia, Russia Bombs Tbilisi Airport". Eurasianet. Retrieved 2008-08-11. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  136. ^ a b Georgian Villages in South Ossetia Burnt, Looted, Human Rights Watch, August 13, 2008
  137. ^ Template:Ru icon Новые Известия. "Мне стыдно за своих товарищей". Югоосетинский спецназ и ополченцы зачистили грузинское село, Novye Izvestiya, August 13 2008
  138. ^ Burning, looting terrorize Georgians, Chicago Tribune, August 14, 2008
  139. ^ Georgians, bewildered and broken, Los Angeles Times, August 14, 2008
  140. ^ Amid promise of peace, Georgians live in terror, The Guardian, August 14, 2008
  141. ^ Destitute and traumatised, the refugees forced to flee South Ossetia, The Independent, 14 August 2008
  142. ^ "A Convoy Heads for Gori to Investigate Rumors of Plunder", The Washington Post, August 14, 2008
  143. ^ Georgians fear revenge attacks, BBC News, 14 August 2008
  144. ^ Signs of looting, ethnic cleansing in conflict, The New York Times, August 15, 2008
  145. ^ Looting and ethnic cleansing against Georgian enclaves, International Herald Tribune, August 15, 2008
  146. ^ Civilians allege militias raped and killed, The Herald, August 16, 2008
  147. ^ After the Battle, Anger Follows Ethnic Lines, The New York Times, August 16, 2008
  148. ^ a b The new cold war hots up, The Sunday Times, August 17, 2008
  149. ^ A dirty little war in Georgia, The Guardian, Aug 18 2008
  150. ^ Judgement day dawns after Russia pledges to quit Georgia, The Guardian, 18 August 2008
  151. ^ "Russian pullback in doubt as Condoleezza Rice and US aid troops head for Georgia", The Times, August 14, 2008
  152. ^ Russia destroying military bases in Georgia, The Daily Telegraph, 15 August 2008
  153. ^ Looting and ethnic cleansing against Georgian enclaves, International Herald Tribune, August 15, 2008
  154. ^ S. Ossetia says Georgian refugees unable to return to region, RIA Novosti, 15/ 08/ 2008
  155. ^ Mythmaking in Moscow: Georgia wasn't committing 'genocide,' and the Russians aren't keeping the peac, The Washington Post, August 16, 2008
  156. ^ Template:Ru icon Грузия-200: «Головы не поднять. Под таким огнем я еще не был», Novaya Gazeta, 13.08.2008
  157. ^ Georgians doing forced labor in South Ossetia, Associated Press, August 16, 2008
  158. ^ В Гори пришла колонна с российской гуманитарной помощью (In Russian), 18 Aug 2008
  159. ^ a b Russian premier-minister Vladimir Putin promised to spend 10 bln rubles to reconstruct the infrastructures and the facilities in South Ossetia. Retrieved on 2008-08-10. Cite error: The named reference "rb" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  160. ^ "Bush Sending Aid to Georgia". The New York Times. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  161. ^ "US forces to deliver Georgia aid". BBC News. 2008-08-13.
  162. ^ Medvedev says Russian pullback to begin Monday, Associated Press, }}
  163. ^ Bush orders U.S. military to help Georgian civilians, CNN, August 13, 2008
  164. ^ "Canada pledges $1M in aid to Georgia", Canwest.
  165. ^ France, Germany contribute aid for Georgia, Associated Press, August 11, 2008
  166. ^ Spain sends half a million euros in emergency aid to the population affected by the conflict in Georgia, ReliefWeb, 12 Aug 2008
  167. ^ Spetalnick, Matt (2008-08-10). "Cheney: "Russian aggression must not go unanswered"". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  168. ^ "Russian Stocks Tank; War With Georgia Feared". Dow Jones & Company. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  169. ^ "Russian equities tumble as tensions with Georgia escalate". The Associated Press. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  170. ^ Lesova, Polya (8 August 2008). "Fitch lowers Georgia's debt ratings to B+". MarketWatch. Retrieved 2008-08-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  171. ^ Pagnamenta, Robin (2008-08-08). "Analysis: energy pipeline that supplies West threatened by war Georgia conflict". The Times. Retrieved 2008-08-10. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  172. ^ Watkins, Eric (2008-08-08). "BTC export alternatives on hold as Russia, Georgia clash". Oil and Gas Journal. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  173. ^ "Russian jets targeted major oil pipeline: Georgia". Reuters. 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  174. ^ "UN row flares over Ossetian conflict". Financial Times. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-09. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  175. ^ "BP shuts in Georgia links". Upstream Today. 2008-08-12. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
  176. ^ "BP turns on Georgia gas taps". Upstream Today. 2008-08-14. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
  177. ^ Oil sinks to 3-month low, CNN, August 8, 2008
  178. ^ "Russia points to media bias in coverage of S.Ossetia conflict". Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  179. ^ Mythmaking in Moscow The Washington Post
  180. ^ "CNN use footage of Tskhinvali ruins to cover Georgian report". Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  181. ^ a b Russia claims media bias, Variety, 2008-08-12
  182. ^ Russia/Georgia: Investigate Civilian Deaths Human Rights Watch
  183. ^ "Russia exaggerating South Ossetian death toll, says human rights group". The Guardian.
  184. ^ Russians losing propaganda war, BBC News, 15 August 2008
  185. ^ "S.Ossetian News Sites Hacked". Civil Georgia. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  186. ^ "На сайте МИД Грузии появился коллаж с Гитлером (Article about site defacement, with photo)". Lenta.Ru. Retrieved 2008-08-09. Template:Ru icon
  187. ^ Schwirtz, Michael (8 August 2008). "Russia and Georgia Clash Over Separatist Region". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  188. ^ Template:Et icon"Saakašvili: Venemaa ei rünnanud Gruusiat, vaid tervet Euroopat" (in Estonian). Postimees. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  189. ^ Template:Et icon"Gruusia välisministeeriumi kodulehekülg paigutati Eesti serverisse" (in Estonian). Eesti Päevaleht. 2008-08-12. Retrieved 2008-08-12. See also: "Estonia sending cyber defense experts to Georgia". Networkworld. 2008-08-11. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  190. ^ Template:Pl iconCenne polskie wsparcie dla Gruzji RMF FM. 9 August 2008. Retrieved on 2008-08-10. See also: "Information about the latest developments in Georgia". President of the Republic of Poland. Office of the President of the Republic of Poland. 2008-08-10. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  191. ^ "Shelling of South Ossetia capital stopped". Russia Today. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  192. ^ Sweeney, Conor (2008-08-10). "Russia, Georgia wage PR battle for hearts and minds". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  193. ^ "Грузия заблокировала сайты в доменной зоне .ru". Lenta.Ru. 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2008-08-11. Template:Ru icon
  194. ^ "RIA Novosti hit by cyber-attacks as conflict with Georgia rages". Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  195. ^ RT attacked Russia Today Retrieved 11-08-08
  196. ^ a b c Template:Ru iconТридцать секунд позора
  197. ^ a b c Youtube Censorship
  198. ^ Template:Ru icon "Грузинская авиация нанесла удар по Южной Осетии". Lenta.Ru. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  199. ^ If Pres Yushchenko gives express order to bar Russian ships from returning to Sevastopol, this order can be executed, ex-Defense Minister Hrytsenko claims ZIK.com, Accessed Thursday, 14 August 2008
  200. ^ "Генштаб России делится подробностями". Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  201. ^ "Conflict spreads outside S Ossetia". Al Jazeera English. Al Jazeera. 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
  202. ^ Michael Hoffman (2008-08-12). "U.S. takes Georgian troops home from Iraq". Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  203. ^ Template:Ru icon На Цхинвали движется колонна российских танков, Lenta.Ru, 08.08.2008
  204. ^ a b c "В Цхинвали вошли подразделения Воздушно-десантных войск" (in Russian). Russian Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  205. ^ a b "В зону конфликта переброшены роты чеченских батальонов "Восток" и "Запад"".
  206. ^ Российских военных обучают как вести себя в случае грузино-абхазского конфликта 11/07/08
  207. ^ Template:Ru icon "Черноморский флот проводит перегруппировку у берегов Абхазии". Lenta.Ru. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  208. ^ "Black Sea Fleet Moving Towards Georgia".
  209. ^ "Press Briefing by Press Secretary Dana Perino and Senior Director for East Asian Affairs Dennis Wilder and Deputy National Security Advisor Ambassador Jim Jeffrey - MarketWatch". Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  210. ^ Chronicle of the conflict by the RTR Planeta correspondent Sladkov
  211. ^ "Narodnoe opolcheniye in Vladikavkaz demand the government to be sent to Southern Ossetia" (Народные ополченцы во Владикавказе требуют от властей отправить их в Южную Осетию) 16:27 2008-08-09.
Wikinews has news related to:
Wikimedia Commons has media related to South Ossetia war, 2008.

Map resources

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Russo-Georgian_War&oldid=232701715"