02.10.2008
South Ossetia Obzor II
Developments Stemming from the Caucasus Conflict
Events up to September 30th, 2008 The following resource is meant to give readers an overview of the developments stemming from the regional conflict between Russia, Georgia, and the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. For more on the actual conflict and its begginings, see the first edition of the South Ossetia Obzor. For more obzori (news reviews) on other issues, see the newsletter for this corresponding month.
For more commentary and analysis of foreign policies post August 8th, see our Foreign Policy Obzor. To receive the free monthly newsletter and obzori by email, simply sign up. Chronologies
on the subject of the Caucasus conflict A Chronology of Military and Violent Events
Leading to the 5-Day War with Georgia German journalists chronicle South Ossetian war
The respected German news weekly, Spiegel, has released the results of its own investigation into the war in South Ossetia. The Information War
in many ways continues... "They Are Liars": Students react to Russia-Georgia conflict
On campus, students responded to the conflict with mixed views and a goal to set the record straight. Georgia to open 'Russian aggression' museum
Georgia plans to open a museum exposing what Tbilisi calls Russia's acts of aggression in the recent conflict over South Ossetia, the culture minister said on Thursday. War Left Georgia Economy Bruised, but Not Broken
During the recent war, Russian soldiers broke into a tower housing Georgia's largest Internet provider and blew up its transmission equipment with hand grenades. Lessons and Losses of Georgia's Five-Day War with Russia
Georgian TV stations have no footage showing the capture of Tskhinvali, destroyed lines of Russian forces, or shots of actual battles. Report from Tbilisi on Media Blocking
As most people know, when the conflict started in August the Georgian government requested that cable companies remove Russian TV stations. Life and Death on the Ground
Casualties and effects on daily life Georgians Grapple With Stalin's Hometown Legacy
Since Russian troops bombed and briefly occupied Gori last month, its citizens have begun to question the legacy of their native son. Interview: Grim Picture Emerges Of Georgian Conflict Zone
Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights, is interviewed on his recently completed a visit to Georgia to assess the humanitarian situation there. New Nuremberg Awaiting War Criminals: a Photographic Report
A large collection of photos from Tskhinvali. OSCE: Reported harassment of Georgian villagers
OSCE reports on various occurrences reported to them since 13 Sept, 2008. A Month after the War
Memorial Human Rights Center says that violations of human rights and norms of humanitarian law occurred in South Ossetia. Confusion Over Conflict Toll
Lengthy list of missing in action suggests official death toll may be under-estimated. Media Guilty as 'Fog of War' Clears
As the 'fog of war' clears over the Caucasus what stands out is the apparently partisan role played by Western media in last month's five-day armed conflict. The Georgian Opposition
Seems invigorated by the world focus on Georgia Georgian Opposition Eyes Presidency
The Georgian Defense Ministry yesterday denied information published in a German newspaper that ministry representatives spoke against the actions of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in South Ossetia. As Saakashvili fights on, Georgia's 'iron lady' waits in wings
Poised and bejeweled, her hair raised high in the style of her hero Margaret Thatcher, Georgia's Nino Burjanadze cuts a formidable figure in this war-torn Caucasus nation. Opposition Takes on Saakashvili in Tbilisi
After weeks of unity following the war with Russia, the truce between Georgia's opposition and the government has finally ended. Opposition leaders are now scrambling to define their position against President Mikheil Saakashvili and his role in the war. Georgians question Saakashvili's reform pledge
Nino Burdzhanadze, the former speaker of parliament, said Georgia does not need a new revolution. Civil Georgia: Ombudsman Speaks Out
Georgia is not "ruled correctly" and it is necessary to replace the existing "authoritarianism" with real democracy in order to save the country, Georgian Public Defender Sozar Subari said in a statement issued on September 25. The West Hails Georgia As a Democracy. But Is It One?
The NGO Freedom House puts the country in the same category as Venezuela and Nigeria. Saakashvili "planned S. Ossetia invasion": ex-minister
Irakly Okruashvili, Georgia's leading political exile, said in a weekend interview that the United States was partly to blame for the war, having failed to check the ambitions of what he called a man with democratic failings. Civil Georgia: Popular TV Talk Show Formally Axed
Primetime, the popular bi-weekly talk-show aired by Rustavi 2 TV and hosted by Inga Grigolia, has been formally closed down, four months after it was "temporarily suspended." Newly Independent States?
News from Abkhazia and South Ossetia Why Did Russia Recognize Georgian Separatist Regions?
Former Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili examines the possible motives that led Moscow to make such a bold move. Significance of the Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
The recognition by some countries but not by others of Kosovo, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia marks the end of the international consensus on how to handle issues of secession. Abkhazia to Fortify Border with Georgia
Abkhazia will fortify its frontier with Georgia, Abkhazia's President Sergei Bagapsh announced. Russia to Represent South Ossetia, Abkhazia
Pursuant to the treaties, Russia will stand for the interests of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in the states, where the latter have no diplomatic missions. South Ossetia Doesn't Intend to Join the RF, Lavrov Said
South Ossetia doesn't intend to join the Russian Federation, the RF Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced in Warsaw, RIA Novosti reported. South Ossetia May Intend to Join RF
South Ossetia intends to become part of Russia, the republic's president, Eduard Kokoity, told the international Valdai Club. Putin: No talk of S. Ossetia's entry into Russia
"It will be adequate if we help restore South Ossetia's economy," Putin said when asked about the republic's entry into the Russian Federation. How Georgia Made South Ossetians 'Separatists in Spite of Themselves'
Unlike the Abkhazians who have a long tradition of opposing Georgian rule, South Ossetians do not, according to a leading Russian analysts Russia signs treaties with Georgia rebel regions
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed treaties with Georgia's South Ossetia and Abkhazia on Wednesday that commit Moscow to defend the breakaway regions from any Georgian attack. Georgian Moves
Political, Economic, Diplomatic, etc. The Charlie Rose Show: Mikhail Saakashvili
A conversation with President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili from 24 Sept, 2008. Russia accused of racial discrimination
Tbilisi accused Moscow of racial discrimination against the Georgians living in the conflict zones, and demands that the Court undertake urgent measures to make the Russian Federation withdraw from Georgian territory. NBC Interview with Saakashvilli
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on the war with Russia and his relationship with the presidential candidates. Saakashvili Speaks of 'Second Rose Revolution'
"We will fight the specter of aggression and authoritarianism with the most potent weapons in our arsenal; namely our commitment to ever-expanding freedoms within our own borders." Russian drone 'hit over Georgia'
Georgia says its military has shot down a Russian reconnaissance drone. Georgia Revises Military Doctrine
Georgia's Defense Ministry, experts, including the foreign ones, set to revising the country's military doctrine and concept of safety. Saakashvili Brushes off 'Miscalculation' Allegations
President Saakashvili said it was "a gross misinterpretation" when alleging that Georgia miscalculated in its actions in South Ossetia. Saakashvili Denies Spending 'Millions' on Lobbying in US
President Saakashvili has strongly denied any kind of "lobbying relations" with a foreign policy advisor of John McCain. Georgia Counts Economic Cost
There are worries that the government is underestimating the scale of the damage. Russian Moves
Political, Economic, Diplomatic, etc. Lawmakers Ask for Saakashvili Tribunal
Members of the Just Russia faction in the State Duma have proposed that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin create a CIS tribunal to judge and punish aggressive acts by leaders of former Soviet republics. Russia woos Georgian territory with jobs, tourists
The signs are that Russian capital will flood Abkhazia, raising living standards in the region and pulling it further away from Georgia's orbit and closer to Russia's. The Charlie Rose Show: Sergei Lavrov
A conversation with Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, from 25 Sept, 2008. Russia says Saakashvili still dangerous
Russia's Foreign Ministry said Saakashvili has failed to learn lessons from the conflict over South Ossetia and still poses a threat to stability in the Caucasus. Russia's Medvedev pledges to restore ties with Georgia
President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday that Russia will do everything possible to restore regular relations with Georgia. Bush failed to halt Georgia war, says Putin
Russia only sent troops and tanks to drive Georgian forces out of South Ossetia after President George Bush failed to pressure Georgia's president to stop his attacks, Putin said. Cluster bombs in Georgia
Human Rights Watch researchers have uncovered evidence that Russian aircraft dropped cluster bombs in populated areas in Georgia, killing at least 11 civilians and injuring dozens. Western International Institutions
PACE, the EU, the UN, and NATO React PACE Calls for Probe into August War
The group of PACE lawmakers has been to conflict-affected areas and held talks with South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity in Tskhinvali. European Lawmakers Call for International Probe into Origins of Georgia-Russian War
A delegation from Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) is blaming both Russia and Georgia for an armed conflict in August. OSCE Chairman Says Russia In 'Driving Seat'
The chairman of the OSCE spoke to RFE/RL about his recent meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister and the chances of resolving the conflict over South Ossetia. New UN Chair Calls Georgia Aggressor
Georgia committed an act of aggression and violated the UN Charter when it invaded South Ossetia, Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann stated on September 16 at his first press conference as chairman of the UN General Assembly. PACE Didn't Yield to Sanctions against Russia
In line with expert forecasts, the attempts of some PACE members to strip Russia of voting right weren't crowned with success. De Hoop Scheffer Set Georgia Conditions
The members of NATO are unanimous in making Georgia a candidate for membership. Georgia vs Russia Trial Set Into Motion in The Hague
The U.N. International Court of Justice that decides on the disputes between the nations has set today to emergency hearings of Georgian suit to Russia. Sarkozy Almost Walked Out of Georgian Talks in Moscow
In one of the stormy moments of Moscow talks, French President and EU President Nicolas Sarkozy threatened to walk out and leave Russia's capital without attaining any agreement. After The Georgian Crisis, The Breaking Of Europe
The European Union is in danger of becoming the greatest long-term casualty of the Russian-Georgian conflict. Flaws Found in Tbilisi's War Planning
NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer arrived in Tbilisi for a two-day trip meant to reaffirm the alliance's commitment to an ongoing partnership with Tbilisi. NATO Ships Leave the Black Sea
The NATO group of six vessels from Spain, Germany, the United States and Poland is leaving the Black Sea, the alliance reported. US Moves
Political, Economic, Diplomatic, etc. US Russia Relations in the Aftermath of the Georgia Crisis
More than four hours of streaming coverage of the House committee meeting from 9 Sept. 2008. The sound quality is not great, but it's worth watching. Washington Responds to Deployment of Russia's Troops in S. Ossetia, Abkhazia
Washington lashed out at Russia for deployment of military forces in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, blaming on Moscow the breach of Medvedev-Sarkozy plan. Europe Won't Accelerate NATO Entry of Georgia, Ukraine
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney renewed his call for cooperation of Europe and Washington in relation to Georgian crisis. Pentagon Completed Humanitarian Operation in Georgia
The U.S. military completed humanitarian operation in Georgia, said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman. Why McCain Loves Misha
Georgia's president is a man after the Republican nominee's heart. That's what worries some advisers. Other Foreign Policy News
News, Opinion, Analysis. U.S. Hearing Casts Critical Eye On Russian 'Power Politics'
Among the questions legislators wanted to know were what leverage the United States has against Russia and whether Russia is sending a larger signal about its intentions toward other countries. Seven Theses Prompted By Russia-Georgia Conflict
Russia is now inclined not only to reject completely a path determined by Western values, but actually to deny that such values even exist. Israel Bans Arms Dealers from Visiting Georgia
Israel has ordered to halt all sales of military equipment to Georgia, The Associated Press reported with reference to the sources with Israeli defense community. Four fallacies about the Russo-Georgian conflict
According to American leaders, Russia's control of South Ossetia and Abkhazia represents an assault by an arrogant adversary on a freedom-loving ally. Their reasoning is faulty and perilous. The biggest loser from Georgia may be Russia
You probably think that, at least from Moscow's perspective, big bad Russia won its small war with plucky little Georgia. After South Ossetia, Time to Restore the Prigorodny District
As measured in terms of their waning rhetoric, leaders in the EU and the United States are just beginning to grasp their current Caucasian circumstances. U.S. Intelligence Sees It Russia's Way
American intelligence confirms that the latest military actions in South Ossetia were started by Georgia and Russia's position in the conflict was correct, says Republican California Congressman Dana Rohrabacher. Did Saakashvili Lie?
The West begins to doubt the Georgian leader.
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