Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 14:41, 14 August 2008

This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. Feel free to improve this article or discuss changes on the talk page, but please note that updates without valid and reliable references will be removed. (Learn how and when to remove this message)

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
Date August 7, 2008 – Ongoing Location Georgia Result Ongoing Territorial changes Georgia loses control over the ethnically Georgian loyalist territories in Abkhazia and in South Ossetia as the conflict continues.
Belligerents
unrecognised Republic of South Ossetia Russian Federation unrecognised Republic of Abkhazia	Georgia
Commanders and leaders
Eduard Kokoity Dmitry Medvedev Anatoly Khrulyov Vladimir Shamanov Marat Kulakhmetov Sergei Bagapsh	Mikheil Saakashvili Davit Kezerashvili Zaza Gogava
Strength
Hundreds of former peacekeeping troops, possibly 3,000 at the beginning of hostilities, unknown total (possibly upwards of 15,000) Thousands of former peacekeeping troops, thousands of other troops entering Georgia (U.S. estimate at least 15,000 in Georgia) and in air and sea support Reportedly at least hundreds (possibly thousands) of volunteers, many of them from North Ossetia-Alania Unknown.	Hundreds of former peacekeeping troops, unknown number of other troops (37,000 at beginning of hostilities, of which 2,000 were in Iraq) "Many" volunteers from Georgia. Reportedly small number of ethnic Georgian volunteers from Azerbaijan
Casualties and losses
Confirmed by Russia: Unknown 74 Russian troops killed, 171 wounded and 19 missing in action 4 aircraft lost Unknown number of losses among the volunteers Unknown Georgian estimates: 400 dead	Confirmed by Georgia: About 200 soldiers killed as of August 10 according to one official Health Minister said 175 people died, mainly civilians Russian estimates: ~4,000 dead
Unknown civilian casualties (Russia claims over 2,000 civilians were killed in South Ossetia, which the Human Rights Watch investigators called "suspicious" and "very doubtful")
At least 100,000 civilians displaced, including 56,000 refugees from the Georgian city of Gori, according to the United Nations refugee agency. 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).

The 2008 South Ossetia war is a war that began on August 7, 2008, and involves the country of Georgia, the Russian Federation and the unrecognised republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Background

Template:Georgia-Russia

South Ossetian interests

The Ossetians are a distinct Iranian ethnic group whose origin lies along the Don River. They came to the Caucasus after they were driven out of their homeland by Mongol invasions in the 13th century. Some of them settled in the territory now known as North Ossetia (currently part of Russia), and South Ossetia (currently part of Georgia).

South Ossetia currently has a Georgian ethnic minority of around one fifth (14,000) of the total population (70,000). The region, which is one and a half times the area of Luxembourg (roughly 6% of the total territory of Georgia) broke away from Georgia in the 1991–1992 war (in which more than 2,000 people are believed to have died). The BBC suggests that the South Ossetians wanted their 'Ossetian' ethnic group identity retained and did not want to become citizens of Georgia. A force with 500 troops each from Russia, North Ossetia-Alania (part of Russia), South Ossetia and Georgia monitored a 1992 truce. In a South Ossetian independence referendum, 2006, held by the the secessionist government, full independence was supported by 99% of the voters. A simultaneous alternative referendum held by the pro-Georgian group People of South Ossetia for Peace (or Salvation Union of Ossetians) favored closer ties with Georgia.

Georgian interests

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 Russian FSB and Army. Sporadic clashes between separatist and Georgian forces have killed dozens of people in the previous few years.

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. Saakashvili proposed a new peace accord, under which South Ossetia would be given "a large degree of autonomy" within a federal state, but leaders of those areas are instead demanding full independence. Another point of interest for Georgia is the strategic position of South Ossetia along the border with Russia, as the Roki Tunnel, which passes through the Greater Caucasus Mountains, is one of few road routes between Georgia and Russia and would be a critical component in any plan to control the border.

Russian interests

The majority of the residents of South Ossetia are Russian citizens holding Russian passports. According to the BBC, "more than half of South Ossetia's 70,000 citizens are said to have taken up Moscow's offer of a Russian passport," while a journalist of Deutsche Welle says that "almost all residents have Russian passports." Russian President Dmitry Medvedev asserts that 90% of South Ossetia residents possess them. Since the 1991–1992 South Ossetia War, Russian peacekeepers have been stationed in South Ossetia under a 1992 agreement with Georgia under a OSCE mandate. The Russian defense ministry said 12 of its peacekeeping troops in South Ossetia had been killed and 30 wounded in the initial Georgian offensive.

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." Russia describes its intervention as a peacekeeping operation to protect its citizens and peacekeepers, and to enforce their peacekeeping mandate in South Ossetia. Dmitry Medvedev said that it aims to force Georgia to accept peace and restore the status quo, and that it is acting within its peacekeeping mission in South Ossetia, and in line with the mandate issued by the international community The Russian defense ministry said reinforcements for Russian peacekeepers had been sent to South Ossetia "to help end bloodshed."

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.

Timeline of events

This section may require cleanup to meet Misplaced Pages's quality standards. No cleanup reason has been specified. Please help improve this section if you can. (August 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

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.

Beginning 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 denies provoking the conflict. On August 3, South Ossetians started to evacuate into Russia and on August 5, Russian ambassador Yuri Popov warned that Russia will intervene if conflict erupts. On August 7, 2008, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili offered a ceasefire. Despite an offer of ceasefire the fighting intensified . In a televised address, Mikhail Saakashvili has vowed to restore Tbilisi's control over what he called the "criminal regime" in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and reinforce order.

During the night and early morning Georgia launched a military offensive to surround and capture the capital of South Ossetia, Tskhinvali. The heavy shelling laid the city in ruins, causing a humanitarian crisis which, according to Russian government sources, amounted to genocide. The news of the shelling was extensively covered by Russian media and served as a pretext for the following military reaction and Russia threatened to respond to defend South Ossetians against "a genocide by Georgian forces." The extent of civilian casualties was later disputed in a number of sources.

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

Action on the Black Sea saw one Georgian missile boat sunk by the Russian Navy on August 9. The Russians claim that the Georgian ships had attacked them earlier. After the skirmish, the remaining Georgian ships fled in defeat.

Also on August 9, an offensive was begun 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 3,000 ethnic Georgian civilians, in Kodori Valley had retreated to Georgia proper.

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 Abkhazia. The Russian military said they were not taking part in the Abkhaz assault on the Georgian forces. Russian forces entered and left the town of Senaki outside Abkhazia on the 11th. 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 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. 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 have called for a peaceful solution to the conflict. The European Union and the United States expressed a will to send a joint delegation to try to negotiate a cease-fire. 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.

On August 12, 2008, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that he had ordered an end to military operations in Georgia. Georgian Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze said that Russian jets were still targeting civilians. “The status quo in South Ossetia and Abkhazia is no longer possible,” said Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Later on the same day (August 12), Russian president Dmitry Medvedev approved a six-point peace plan brokered by President-in-Office of the European Union, Nicolas Sarkozy, in Moscow.

On August 13, 2008, the Russians occupied both Gori and Senaki. Russian troops were seen on the road from Gori to Tbilisi, but they 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.

Infrastructure damages

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. Reuters reported an attack on the civilian Tbilisi International Airport, though Russia claims this is misinformation. Georgian State Minister for Reintegration, Temur Iakobashvili also denied this, stating, "There was no attack on the airport in Tbilisi. It was a factory that produces combat airplanes."

Peace plan: Roadmap to end of military hostilities

Demands to end conflict

Saakashvili ordered a unilateral ceasefire on August 7 2008 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. 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.

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." Russian Prime Minister Putin added Moscow would take its mission in the region to "a logical conclusion." Later the same day, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili signed an EU-backed ceasefire, but the document was rejected by Moscow. According to a Reuters witness, Georgian troops did not cease fire, as six helicopters attacked Tskhinvali on August 11. An Associated Press reporter saw 135 Russian military vehicles, including tanks, driving toward the Kodori Gorge, held by Georgian forces. Russian jets bombed civilian targets in Georgia despite Moscow's announcement that the war had ended, the acting Georgian ambassador to Britain told Sky News.

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

On August 13, a reporter for the UK 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. CNN reported that journalists in Gori said they had seen no Russian tanks, contrary to claims by the Georgian president. 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" Al Jazeera reported a "continuous build up" of Russian forces in Poti throughout the day, and the destruction of several Georgian vessels. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied that Russian troops were "anywhere near" the city. Russia's deputy chief of General Staff Colonel-General Anatoly Nogovitsyn said sporadic clashes continued in South Ossetia between Georgian snipers and Russian troops. "We must respond to provocations," he said.

EU-brokered six-point peace plan

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. Sarkozy's plan orignally 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.

1. No recourse to the use of force.

2. Definitive cessation of hostilities.

3. Free access to humanitarian aid (addition rejected: and to allow the return of refugees).

4. Georgian military forces must withdraw to their normal bases of encampment.

5. Russian military forces must withdraw to the lines prior to the start of hostilities. While awaiting an international mechanism, Russian peacekeeping forces will implement additional security measures (addition rejected: six months).

6. Opening of international discussions on the modalities of lasting security in Abkhazia and South Ossetia (addition rejected: based on the decisions of the U.N. and the O.S.C.E.).

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'". But 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.

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

Humanitarian impact

South Ossetia

On August 8, the International Red Cross urged the combatant sides to make a humanitarian corridor to evacuate the wounded and civilians from Tskhinvali. Tskhinvali's main city hospital was non-functional, and ambulances could not reach the wounded, while Georgia continued to bomb the hospital, according to Russian sources. Twenty-two wounded remained in the building, which reportedly had only two storeys left. International Red Cross spokeswoman Anna Nelson said it had received reports that hospitals in Tskhinvali were "overflowing" with casualties. According to Russia Today, more than 150 people were trapped under the rubble of the city hospital. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin alleged that Georgia was responsible for a "complete genocide."

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said that thousands of refugees left South Ossetia, mostly for North Ossetia in Russia within the first days of the conflict. About 140 buses, carrying thousands of refugees, had already arrived in North Ossetia on Friday evening, August 8, according to Reuters.

Eduard Kokoity stated from South Ossetia that the death toll has risen to 1,400 in South Ossetia. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on August 9 upon his return from Beijing to Vladikavkaz claimed that "tens of people killed, hundreds wounded" and 34,000 refugees had crossed the Russian border. The United Nations refugee agency said that between 10,000 and 20,000 people have been displaced within Georgia. According to Russian sources, Tskhinvali was lying in ruins, and more than ten border villages were burnt to the ground as of August 9. According to western media who arrived in the city later, however, "everal residential areas seemed to have little damage" and "eporters witnessed more than a dozen fires in what appeared to be deserted ethnic Georgian neighborhoods and saw evidence of looting in those areas.

The fighting interrupted electricity and telephone service in Tskhinvali, and some inhabitants sheltered in basements with no access to water or medicines.

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.

At a makeshift hospital camp in Alagir on August 9, Prime Minister Putin was told that Georgian troops had set fire to a house with several young women inside. "They were rounded up like cattle, shut into the house, and set on fire. In another place, we saw a tank run over an old woman who was running away with two children. We saw how they slashed up an 18-month child," a refugee said. Russian reports cited the representative of South Ossetia administration Irina Gagloeva asserting that Georgia opened an irrigation canal to flood the basements of Tskhinvali in order to prevent people from hiding in the basements of the buildings during bombings, and that Georgian tanks ran people down and that soldiers took away women.

Georgia

The BBC reported that "In one air strike the pilot missed the intended military base, instead hitting two apartment blocks" in Gori, and the reporters "saw injured civilians being pulled from the buildings." Regarding this incident SkyNews reported that "a military installation had been hit in Gori and surrounding residential apartments had been badly damaged." Journalists referred to the situation in Gori as "chaotic". Georgia has alleged that Russia is committing ethnic cleansing against ethnic Georgians.

Russian Novye Izvestiya, the UK Guardian and Sky News reported that "Ossetian irregulars" were looting and burning Georgian villages in South Ossetia and near Gori on August 13. British journalist Andrew Wilson of The Times reported that he was assaulted and almost killed by "Ossetian fighters". The Guardian cited witnesses who claimed "an orgy of looting, burning, murdering and rape" against Georgians was carried out by Chechen and Ossetian "volunteers". However it said the claims were impossible to verify because of Russian blockades. According to the New York Times, "ne officer, who asked that his name not be used, said there had been a series of attacks on Wednesday on Georgian villages." On August 14 euronews and the Chicago Tribune relayed reports that homes and buildings in Gori and elsewhere had been looted and torched after the ceasefire declaration.

According to the Los Angeles Times, "andits and looters raged through ethnic Georgian villages in and around South Ossetia, eyewitnesses said. The machine-gun-toting men didn't wear uniforms; they were variously described as Russians, Cossacks, Chechens or ethnic Ossetians. They rounded up men, raped women and set fire to homes, villagers said."

On August 14 BBC News reported that "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."

The UK Independent reported an account of looters who the witness "claimed were irregular Chechen paramilitaries" The Russian Minister of Internal Affairs Rashid Nurgaliev said there would be "decisive and tough" measures taken against looters. According to Russia's Interfax, two looters were executed by firing squad in South Ossetia on August 13.

The Washington Post reported that "fields were on fire" on August 13 but a Russian general in Gori said the fires were "a farming technique".

On August 14, Agence France-Presse reported "The United Nations estimates some 100,000 people people have been forced from their homes."

Aid

On August 8, The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations sent a mobile hospital to North Ossetia. The Russian President also ordered the government to take urgent measures to provide humanitarian aid to those leaving the conflict zone. 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.

On August 11, the Russian Interfax News Agency said that Russia sent 120 tons of food to South Ossetia and 17 tons of medicine to prevent humanitarian catastrophe. Russia said it plans to send a humanitarian aid convoy with 200 tons of food, 16 tons of medical supplies, six electricity generators and water filters, from Russia's North Ossetian city of Vladikavkaz to Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, the Emergency Situation Minister said on August 10. The Russian government additionally allocated $200 million in urgent aid for South Ossetia, to tackle the growing humanitarian catastrophe, according to Russia's envoy to NATO.

On August 12, after a meeting of the Romanian Supreme Council of National Defense, at the Cotroceni Palace, conducted by the president Traian Băsescu, its members decided to send humanitarian aid to Georgia, consisting of drugs and medical equipment.

On August 13, United States President George W. Bush said the U.S. would send humanitarian aid to Georgia, in a "vigorous and ongoing" mission by military aircraft and naval forces. A U.S. military cargo plane arrived in Georgia that day. 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.

Canada has pledged $1 million in aid, Germany $1.5 million. According to its foreign ministry, France will send "30 metric tons of supplies." Spain is working with the Red Cross to help refugees, and has contributed €0.5 million in aid. Australia has offered Georgia $1 million dollars in humanitarian aid.

Latvia has sent to Georgia "A cargo of humanitarian aid of medical items from state reserves consisting of 4,000 containers of blood products and 20,000 gauze bandages to the value of 20,000 lats was sent to Georgia on 12 August. In addition, the Government allocated 100,000 lats from contingency resources to assist Georgia in overcoming the consequences of the war. The money will be utilised according to current exigencies and on the basis of the information provided by Georgia about its needs in the course of rendering crisis relief." Lithuania has thus far given to Georgia 86,000 euros' worth of aid in sleeping bags and medical supplies. Estonia and Poland have sent, in addition to humanitarian aid, computer experts to fend off cyberattacks.

Reactions to the conflict

International reactions

Human Rights Watch visited a camp for the displaced in the village of Alagir and interviewed more than a dozen people, including those from Tskhinvali and neighboring villages. Those from the city reported spending more than three days in the basements of their houses, unable to come out because of the incessant shelling. Residents of Satikhar village said that after the village came under heavy artillery fire on the night of August 7, all women, children and elderly (more than 100 people) started fleeing their homes. Most of them spent the next two days hiding in the woods and then trying to make their way toward the Russian border. Later, the Russian military in the village of Ger helped in the displaced civilians' transport to North Ossetia.

Human Rights Watch (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".Anna Neistat, leader of a HRW team investigating the humanitarian damage in South Ossetia, told the Guardian that

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."

Human Rights Watch say their researchers "witnessed terrifying scenes of destruction in four villages that used to be populated exclusively by ethnic Georgians" and reported "armed Ossetian militia members in camouflage fatigues" taking household items out of houses in the village of Nizhnie Achaveti and loading them into their trucks. Explaining the looters' actions, "an Ossetian man" told Human Rights Watch, 'Of course, they are entitled to take things from Georgians now – because they lost their own property in Tskhinvali and other places.'".

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. The Russian ruble also fell by 1% relative to a basket of currencies.

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.

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. The BTC pipeline was shut down before the conflict and the war created further problems for the operating company. Georgia claims Russia is targeting the pipeline. 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. The price of oil was not negatively affected by these events, on August 8 light sweet crude for September delivery settled down $4.82 to $115.20 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Allegations of media bias

Russian media reported that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin

...accused foreign media 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.

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. 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.

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." 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."

The leader of a Human Rights Watch team investigating the damage in South Ossetia complained of a "massive Russia propaganda machine"

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.

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. According to the New York Times, Georgian websites crashed frequently on 8 August.

The attacks are similar in nature to the 2007 cyberattacks on Estonia and were carried out with the same techniques. 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. 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.

Georgia had stopped broadcasting Russian television channels across the country. Web sites hosted on domains with addresses ending in .ru “were briefly blocked” from Georgia. Some pro-Russian sites in other zones were also reported to be blocked. 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. 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.

Combatants

This article may require cleanup to meet Misplaced Pages's quality standards. No cleanup reason has been specified. Please help improve this article if you can. (August 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.

Military equipment

Georgian, Russian and South Ossetian forces are equipped with predominantly Soviet-made weapons, in particular, Sukhoi Su-25 attack aircraft, 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.

Georgia

Georgian order of battle

This section needs expansion. You can help by making an edit requestadding to it . (August 2008)

In the combat for Tskhinvali, Georgia reportedly committed several infantry battalions supported by T-72 tanks and artillery. The Georgian Air Force has also been engaged in the conflict.

All 2,000 Georgian troops in Iraq have redeployed to Georgia so that they can support requirements there during the current security situation. The troops and their equipment were transported by the United States Air Force using C-17 Globemaster aircraft. Georgia has 82 T-72 tanks.

Ukraine has supplied Georgia with many weapons. They reportedly sold AA missiles, and small arms. Exact numbers of the weapons supplied are not given.

Russia

Russian order of battle

South Ossetian Sector

• Unnamed units formerly used for peacekeeping
• At least two strengthened battalions of 19th Motor Rifle Division (North Ossetia) of 58th Army.
• Units of Airborne Troops (VDV)
  • Units of 76th Airborne Division (Pskov)
  • Units of 98th Airborne Division (Ivanovo)
• Units of GRU (direct or operational subordination)
  • Spetsnaz of 45th Detached Reconnaissance Regiment of VDV (Moscow)
  • One company of Special Battalion Vostok of 42nd Motor Rifle Division (Chechnya)
  • One company of Special Battalion Zapad of 42nd Motor Rifle Division (Chechnya)

Abkhazian Sector

• Units of 131st Separate Motor-Rifle Brigade (formerly used for peacekeeping)
• Unnamed units of VDV
• Army (land and air forces) of Abkhazia
• Naval Task Force consisting of following units from the Black Sea Fleet
  • RFS Moskva
  • Kashin class destroyer Smetlivy (Template:Lang-ru)
  • Three large landing ships (BDK, Template:Lang-ru)
  • Some unnamed support ships

Air support

• Fighter, attack, bomber and reconnaissance aircrafts of 4th Air Army (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
• Russian news services, notably RTR Planeta, 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 (Template:Lang-ru).

Statements

This section may require cleanup to meet Misplaced Pages's quality standards. No cleanup reason has been specified. Please help improve this section if you can. (August 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Georgia

• Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili claimed the Russians conducted a "well-planned invasion"
• "A sniper war is ongoing against residents of the villages in the South Ossetian conflict zone and as I speak now intensive fire is ongoing from artillery, from tanks, from self-propelled artillery systems – which have been brought in the conflict zone illegally – and from other types of weaponry, including mortars and grenade launchers", Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said in a live televised address made at 19:10 7 August local time.
• "This is about annihilation of a democracy on their borders," Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili told the BBC. "We on our own cannot fight with Russia. We want immediate cease-fire, immediate cessation of hostilities, separation of Russia and Georgia and international mediation."
• Georgia's Security Council secretary, Alexander Lomaia, said Saakashvili's proposal means that the Georgian troops will withdraw from Tskhinvali, the provincial capital of South Ossetia, and stop responding to Russian shelling.
• Russia has "started a full-scale military invasion" of Georgia, the country's UN Ambassador Irakli Alasania said in New York.
• "If this is not war, then I wonder what is," Georgia's ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Victor Dolidze, told a crisis meeting of the OSCE's permanent council in Vienna.
• Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili stated, "What Russia is doing in Georgia is open, unhidden aggression and a challenge to the whole world. If the whole world does not stop Russia today, then Russian tanks will be able to reach any other European capital." He argued Russia was attacking Georgia because " want to be free and we want to be a multi-ethnic democracy."
• In an interview with CNN, Saakashvili said that Georgia and Russia were practically at war. "We have Russian tanks moving in," he said. "We have continuous Russian bombardment since yesterday ... specifically targeting the civilian population. Russia is fighting a war with us in our own territory." He told the BBC: "Our troops are attacked by thousands of troops coming in from Russia."

• On August 12, Georgia instituted proceedings before the International Court of Justice against the Russian Federation for "its actions on and around the territory of Georgia" from 1991 to 2008, in breach of the 1965 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

Russia

• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in a BBC interview: "Peace is required and that is what we are going to achieve but we would not go beyond this."
• Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said, "The actions of the Georgian powers in South Ossetia are, of course, a crime — first of all against their own people," and alleged Georgia was committing "complete genocide." Putin opined that the territorial integrity of Georgia has suffered a fatal blow. He later stated "the Georgian side was preparing aggression... Nobody was listening. And this is the result. We have finally come to it. However, Russia will of course carry out its peacekeeping mission to its logical end."
• Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he was ordering the military prosecutor to document crimes against civilians (by Georgia) in South Ossetia. He said "The actions of the Georgian side led to deaths - among them are Russian peacekeepers. The situation reached the point that Georgian peacekeepers have been shooting at Russian peacekeepers. Now women, children and old people are dying in South Ossetia - most of them are citizens of the Russian Federation. According to the constitution, I, as the President of the Russian Federation, must protect lives and the dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are. Those responsible for the deaths of our citizens will be punished. He said it aims to force Georgia to accept peace and restore the status quo, and it is acting within its peacekeeping mission in South Ossetia, and in line with the mandate issued by the international community.
• After the GMT 4:00 8 August UN Security Council meeting, Boris Malakhov, spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said he hoped it was still possible to prevent "mass bloodshed," adding, "It now became clear why the Georgian side was refraining under various pretexts from signing a legally binding document on non-use of force"
• Russian envoy Yuri Popov said Georgia's military operation showed it could not be trusted and NATO should reconsider its plans to grant membership to Georgia. Popov said, "Georgia's step is absolutely incomprehensible and shows the Georgian leadership has zero credit of trust." He called Georgia's behavior treacherous.
• In a letter to all NATO members, Ambassador of Russia to NATO Dmitry Rogozin stated Georgia had "got a permit to start a military operation" after the 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest and warned against continued support of Georgia and its president.
• In North Ossetia's Vladikavkaz there were several demonstrations rallied by local Ossetians, with protesters shouting "Russia, save us!" and demanding the withdrawal of Georgian forces from South Ossetia.
• Chairman of Russia's State Duma Security Committee, Vladimir Vasiliyev, stated, "Georgia could have used the years of Saakashvili's presidency in different ways - to build up the economy, to develop the infrastructure, to solve social issues both in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and the whole state. Instead, the Georgian leadership with president Saakashvili undertook consistent steps to increase its military budget from US$30 million to $1 billion - Georgia was preparing for a military action."
• On 10 August 2008 Russian human rights commissioner (ombudsman) Vladimir Lukin called for creating International Tribunal on South Ossetia. "That man who order night attack on Tskhinvali is the main responsible person," he said.
• Vice Chairman of Russian parliament Vladimir Zhirinovsky in his speech on Echo Moskvy radio suggested bombing Tbilisi and bringing Saakashvili to trial, overthrowing his "fascist regime," as well as breaking all diplomatic and economic links with Georgia.
• Russia also laid much of the responsibility for ending the fighting on the United States, which has trained Georgian troops. Moscow ignored the Bush administration’s statement about “significant long-term impact on the U.S.-Russia relations”. Washington has not condemned Georgia’s attack on South Ossetia. Israel, France, Ukraine, and other countries have also trained Georgian forces in the past.

• The Communist Party of the Russian Federation "completely support actions of the (Russian) head of the state and the government against aggressor Mikheil Saakashvili" according to party leader Gennady Zyuganov. Zyuganov also criticized the U.S. and the European nations which have called for a cease-fire, because Zyuganov says they only "wish to protect the bloody dictator Saakashvili." Finally, the Russian government should recognize the independence of the Republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia according to Zyuganov.
• Mikhail Gorbachev, former head of state of the Soviet Union, in an op-ed in the U.S. newspaper The Washington Post blamed Georgia for starting the conflict: "the roots of this tragedy lie in the decision of Georgia's separatist leaders in 1991 to abolish South Ossetian autonomy... What happened on the night of Aug. 7 is beyond comprehension. The Georgian military attacked the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali with multiple rocket launchers designed to devastate large areas. Russia had to respond. To accuse it of aggression against 'small, defenseless Georgia' is not just hypocritical but shows a lack of humanity."

South Ossetia

• On 8 August, South Ossetia called on "the governments and peoples of the world" to recognise its independence: "For South Ossetia, there is only one path of life – the acceptance of its independence by the international community. We call on all self-respecting people of the planet to not be indifferent to the fate of the Ossetian nation."

Abkhazia

• Abkhaz Minister for Foreign Affairs Sergey Shamba called on the international community to prohibit Georgia from having its own armed forces. "Over the last hundred years Georgia has been an independent state for 21 years: from 1918 to 1921 and from 1990 till now. And during that time launched 7 wars," he said.

References

1. ^ 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. Barnard, Anne (9 August 2008). "Georgia and Russia Nearing All-Out War". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
3. 15,000 Russian troops in Georgia, U.S. administration officials say, CNN, August 13, 2008
4. ^ ""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)
5. "Hundreds of 'Volunteers' Head for S.Ossetia – N.Ossetian Leader". Civil.ge. August 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
6. "Missiles confiscated by Georgia in South Ossetia to be handed back to Russia". RIA Novosti via Russia in Global Affairs. 25 July 2004. Retrieved 2008-08-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
7. "Sout (sic) Ossetia: Georgia rotates peacekeepers, reopens road". Civil.ge. 21 February 2006. Retrieved 2008-08-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
8. Comparative size of Russian, Georgian armed forces, Associated Press, Aug 10, 2:13 p.m. ET
9. "Zugdidi w rękach Rosjan" (in Polish). Rzeczpospolita. Retrieved 2008-08-11. (Google Translate.)
10. "Azerbaijani Georgians not to keep out of war with Ossetians". Today.az. 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
11. "74 Russian Soldiers Killed in S.Ossetia - Report", Sofia News Agency, Novinite.com, August 13, 2008.
12. Российские самолеты были сбиты украинскими расчетами ПВО, Lenta.ru, 16:48:11
13. ^ "Saakashvili on Military Aspects of Conflict," Ciliv.ge, 2008-08-13.
14. Georgia withdraws troops from South Ossetia capital, CNN, 10 August 2008
15. 175 dead in Georgia unrest: health minister, AFP, 13.08.2008
16. ^ "Security Council holds third emergency meeting as South Ossetia conflict intensifies, expands to other parts of Georgia".
17. 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
18. Template:Pl icon 100 tys. przemieszczonych z powodu konfliktu w Gruzji, Polska Agencja Prasowa, 12.08.2008
19. "Roots of Georgia-Russia clash run deep".
20. ^ BBC, Georgia 'calls Ossetia ceasefire', 11.08.08
21. ^ "Q&A: Violence in South Ossetia". BBC News. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
22. Associated Press (2008-08-08). "Facts about South Ossetia". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
23. ^ "S Ossetia bitterness turns to conflict". BBC. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
24. ^ "We are at war with Russia, declares Georgian leader". The Independent. 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
25. "Svoboda News".
26. "Ural Web news".
27. "Lenta".
28. Georgia blames Russia of a territorial annexation Utro, January 18, 2005
29. "Saakashvili: Returning of Abkhazia is the main goal of Georgia".
30. ^ "What is Georgia's rebel South Ossetia region?". Reuters. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-09. Cite error: The named reference "reuters what is" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
31. ^ "Russian tanks enter South Ossetia". BBC. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
32. "Opinion: A Ruso-Georgian Media War in South Ossetia". Deutsche Welle. 2008-08-09.
33. Mandate of the OSCE Mission to Georgia
34. "Medvedev tells Bush Russia aims to force Georgia to accept peace". RIA Novosti. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
35. Six Die in S.Ossetia Shootout, Civil Georgia, 2 August 2008. (Google cache)
36. "Talking Through Gritted Teeth". Transitions Online. 2008-08-06. BBC Monitoring.
37. "Russia vows to defend S Ossetia". BBC News. 2008-08-05.
38. Heavy fighting in South Ossetia .BBC. 8 August 2008.
39. ^ "The goals behind Moscow's Proxy Offensive in South Ossetia". Cite error: The named reference "Jamestown Goals" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
40. ^ "Medvedev, Putin accuse Georgia of genocide".
41. Cite error: The named reference HWR_Guardian_13aug2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
42. ^ "The Hindu : International : Status quo not possible: Moscow". Retrieved 2008-08-13.
43. "Georgia Pulls Out Troops from Iraq amid 'Russian Aggression'". Civil Georgia. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
44. The Associated Press, 2008-08-13, Georgian troops leave Abkhazia, Russians in Gori
45. Russian Forces Capture Military Base in Georgia, accessed August 13, 2008.
46. Blomfield, Adrian (2008-08-12). "Russians shells Gori despite claims Georgia conflict is over - Telegraph". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
47. Blomfield, Adrian (2008-08-12). "Georgia: Chaos and panic as people flee the Russian advance -". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
48. Kendall, Bridget (2008-08-10). "Western words fall on deaf Russian ears". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
49. La Géorgie et la Russie s'affrontent pour le contrôle de l'Ossétie du Sud. Le Monde. 9 August 2008
50. ^ "The Hindu : Front Page : Georgia pulls out forces". Retrieved 2008-08-11.
51. "Russia Orders Halt in Georgia as Fighting Continues". The New York Times. 2008-08-12.
52. Georgia: bombs fall after Russian halt order, Reuters, August 12, 2008.
53. ^ "Russia 'backs Georgia peace plan'". BBC. 2008-08-12. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
54. New York Times Bush, Sending Aid, Demands That Moscow Withdraw; Associated Press, Russian feint toward Tbilisi shows truce fragile. Both retrieved on 2008-08-14.
55. "Georgia: Russia enters into 'war' in South Ossetia". Telegraph.
56. "WRAPUP 1-Russia, Georgia battle in South Ossetia". Reuters.
57. "Tbilisi civilian airport hit in Russian air strike". Reuters. 2008-08-10. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
58. "МВД Грузии сообщает об ударе российской авиации по тбилисскому аэропорту, минобороны России упрекает его в "информационных провокациях"". NEWSru.com.
59. ^ "Jewish Georgian minister: Thanks to Israeli training, we're fending off Russia". Haaretz. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
60. "Russia's Medvedev: Operation in S. Ossetia near conclusion - Israel News, Ynetnews". Retrieved 2008-08-11.
61. Meikle, James. "Russian troops advance into Georgia". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-08-11. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
62. "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)
63. "Georgian helicopters bomb S.Ossetia targets-witness". Reuters.
64. Dozens of Russian vehicles head toward key gorge, Associated Press, Yahoo!, 12 August 2008.
65. "Georgia 'Still Being Bombed'", Sky News, 2008-08-12.
66. "Медведев объявил о завершении операции по принуждению к миру" (in Russian). Lenta.Ru. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
67. "Завершение операции не помешает российским военным вести разведку в Грузии" (in Russian). Lenta.Ru. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
68. ^ "Georgian villages burned and looted as Russian tanks advance", The Guardian, 2008-08-13.
69. "Reports: Russians moving deeper into Georgia". CNN.
70. Tanks 'Not Heading For Tbilisi'
71. "Russian forces sink Georgian ships", Al Jazeera.
72. "U.S. plans aid to Georgia as Russians roll into Gori", Associated Press.
73. "Russian convoy heads into Georgia, violating truce". Associated Press.
74. ^ Kramer, Andrew E. (2008-08-13). "Peace Plan Offers Russia a Rationale to Advance". The New York Times. The translation of the six points is by the Times, from a French language document provided by a Georgian negotiator.
75. "Russia Endorses Six-Point Plan," Civil.ge, 2008-08-12.
76. "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," said.
77. http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/text/news/2008/08/205312.shtml
78. "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)
79. "Red Cross needs corridor for wounded in S. Ossetia".
80. "Новости@Mail.Ru: Грузинские войска продолжают обстрел больницы в югоосетинской столице". Retrieved 2008-08-09.
81. Russian forces battle Georgians Retrieved on 08-08-08
82. "RussiaToday : News : Georgia announces ceasefire".
83. "Security Council meets again to discuss violence in South Ossetia, Georgia". Retrieved 2008-08-09.
84. South Ossetia refugee buses arrive in Russia - Reuters
85. "Medvedev's official statement (August 8)".
86. "South Ossettia leader says 1,400 killed in conflict". The Independent. Reuters. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
87. Путин: из Южной Осетии в Россию перешли 34 тысячи беженцев, RIA Novosti, August 9 2008.
88. ^ Fighting resumed in South Ossetia Retrieved on 2008-08-08.
89. ^ 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).
90. Heavy damage in Tskhinvali, mostly at gov't center Associated Press
91. "South Ossetia clashes intensify". BBC. 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
92. "Fighting escalates in Russia, Georgia conflict (w/video)". Retrieved 2008-08-09.
93. "Журналисты в Цхинвали призывают мир открыть гуманитарный коридор - Новости России - ИА REGNUM".
94. "Новая Газета Лента событий". {{cite web}}: Text "Южная Осетия. Журналисты, находящиеся в Цхинвали, взывают о помощи" ignored (help)
95. "Peacekeepers say Georgian forces shelling apartments in S.Ossetia". Retrieved 2008-08-11.
96. "Georgia opened an irrigation canal to flood the basements of Tskhinvali". Retrieved 2008-08-11.
97. "Civilians perish as Georgian troops torch church".
98. ^ "Eyewitness: Scenes of panic in Gori". BBC News.
99. "Mission To End Georgia Crisis", Sky News, 2008-08-10.
100. 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)
101. Новые Известия. "Мне стыдно за своих товарищей". Югоосетинский спецназ и ополченцы зачистили грузинское село
102. "Russia Troops Violate Ceasefire", Sky News.
103. "British journalist in brush with death in Georgia", The Times, 2008-08-13.
104. "Amid promise of peace, Georgians live in terror", The Guardian.
105. Georgia claims Russia sending more troops to Gori The Guardian.
106. Russian Soldiers Occupying Stalin’s Birth City Are Buoyed by Battle With Georgia
107. Russian troops to withdraw from Gori euronews
108. Burning, looting terrorize GeorgiansChicago Tribune
109. Georgians, bewildered and broken LA Times
110. Georgians fear revenge attacks>BBC News
111. Destitute and traumatised, the refugees forced to flee South Ossetia The Independent
112. "Georgian Villages in South Ossetia Burnt, Looted", Human Rights Watch.
113. "Russian pullback in doubt as Condoleezza Rice and US aid troops head for Georgia", The Times (London).
114. "A Convoy Heads for Gori to Investigate Rumors of Plunder", The Washington Post.
115. "Russians begin pulling back from flashpoint Georgian city", AFP.
116. Cite error: The named reference rt5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
117. "Russia to send more aid convoys to S. Ossetia". Retrieved 2008-08-11.
118. Russia to provide $200 mln in urgent aid for S. Ossetia RIA Novosti Retrieved on 11-08-08
119. CSAT: ROMÂNIA VA ACORDA ASISTENŢĂ UMANITARĂ GEORGIEI Antena 3 Retrieved on 2008-08-13.
120. Comunicat de presa 12.08.2008 REF: Şedinţa Consiliului Suprem de Apărare a Ţării CSAT Press Center Retrieved on 2008-08-13.
121. "Bush Sending Aid to Georgia". The New York Times.
122. "US forces to deliver Georgia aid". BBC News. 2008-08-13.
123. "US plans aid to Georgia as Russia rolls into city". Associated Press.
124. "Bush orders U.S. military to help Georgian civilians". CNN.
125. "Canada pledges $1M in aid to Georgia", Canwest.
126. "France, Germany contribute aid for Georgia", Associated Press.
127. "Spain sends half a million euros in emergency aid to the population affected by the conflict in Georgia", ReliefWeb.
128. "Australia offers humanitarian aid to Georgia". Associated Press.
129. "Latvia provides humanitarian aid to Georgia", Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia.
130. "Lithuania sends humanitarian aid to Georgia", The Baltic Course.
131. "Update: Estonia, Poland help Georgia fight cyberattacks", ComputerWorld, IDG News Service.
132. North Ossetia: Update on Casualties and Displaced Civilians Human Rights Watch Retrieved on 12-08-08
133. Russia/Georgia: Investigate Civilian Deaths Human Rights Watch
134. "Russia exaggerating South Ossetian death toll, says human rights group". The Guardian.
135. Georgian Villages in South Ossetia Burnt, Looted
136. "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)
137. "Russian equities tumble as tensions with Georgia escalate". The Associated Press. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
138. 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)
139. Pagnamenta, Robin (8 August 2008). "Analysis: energy pipeline that supplies West threatened by war Georgia conflict". The Times. Retrieved 2008-08-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
140. Watkins, Eric (8 August 2008). "BTC export alternatives on hold as Russia, Georgia clash". Oil and Gas Journal. Retrieved 2008-08-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
141. "Russian jets targeted major oil pipeline: Georgia". Reuters. 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
142. "UN row flares over Ossetian conflict". Financial Times (London). 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
143. "Oil sinks to 3-month low". CNN. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
144. "Russia points to media bias in coverage of S.Ossetia conflict". Retrieved 2008-08-11.
145. "CNN use footage of Tskhinvali ruins to cover Georgian report". Retrieved 2008-08-12.
146. ^ "Russia claims media bias," Variety, 2008-08-12.
147. Human Rights Watch: Russia inflating casualty figures The Guardian
148. "S.Ossetian News Sites Hacked". Civil Georgia. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
149. "На сайте МИД Грузии появился коллаж с Гитлером (Article about site defacement, with photo)". Lenta.Ru. Retrieved 2008-08-09. Template:Ru icon
150. Schwirtz, Michael (8 August 2008). "Russia and Georgia Clash Over Separatist Region". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
151. "Saakašvili: Venemaa ei rünnanud Gruusiat, vaid tervet Euroopat" (in Estonian). Postimees. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
152. "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.
153. Cenne polskie wsparcie dla Gruzji (in Polish) 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.
154. "Shelling of South Ossetia capital stopped". Russia Today. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
155. Sweeney, Conor (2008-08-10). "Russia, Georgia wage PR battle for hearts and minds". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
156. "Грузия заблокировала сайты в доменной зоне .ru". Lenta.Ru. 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2008-08-11. Template:Ru icon
157. "RIA Novosti hit by cyber-attacks as conflict with Georgia rages". Retrieved 2008-08-11.
158. RT attacked Russia Today Retrieved 11-08-08
159. "Large-Scale Fighting Erupts In South Ossetia". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
160. ^ "Georgia 'pulls out of S Ossetia'". BBC News.
161. 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)
162. "Генштаб России делится подробностями". Retrieved 2008-08-10.
163. "Conflict spreads outside S Ossetia". Al Jazeera English. Al Jazeera. 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
164. Michael Hoffman (2008-08-12). "U.S. takes Georgian troops home from Iraq". Retrieved 2008-08-12.
165. 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
166. "Lenta.Ru: На Цхинвали движется колонна российских танков".
167. ^ "В Цхинвали вошли подразделения Воздушно-десантных войск" (in Russian). Russian Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
168. ^ "В зону конфликта переброшены роты чеченских батальонов "Восток" и "Запад"".
169. Российских военных обучают как вести себя в случае грузино-абхазского конфликта 11/07/08
170. 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)
171. "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.
172. Chronicle of the conflict by the RTR Planeta correspondent Sladkov
173. "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.
174. "Russia and Georgia Clash Over Separatist Region". The New York Times.
175. Saakashvili Appeals for Peace in Televised Address, Civil Georgia, 7 August, 2008.
176. "In 'state of war' over South Ossetia". Associated Press.
177. "Georgia proposes cease fire in S Ossetia". Associated Press.
178. ^ "Russia thrusts into South Ossetia; clashes with Georgia reported". Agence France-Presse.
179. "Russia, Georgia Near Full-Scale War Over South Ossetia". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
180. "Russian forces battle Georgians". BBC News.
181. "Georgia institutes proceedings against Russia for violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination" (PDF) (Press release). International Court of Justice. 2008-08-12. Unofficial.
182. Simons, Marlise (2008-08-13). "Georgia Files Suit Against Russia, Charging Racial Discrimination". The New York Times.
183. "Interview by Minister of Foreign Affaires of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov to BBC, Moscow". August 9, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
184. Times Online (2008-08-11). "Russian troops invade Georgia and 'take the town of Gori'". Retrieved 2008-08-13.
185. South Ossetian bloodshed claims hundreds of lives Russia Today, Retrieved on 2008-08-08 See also: Lenta.Ru: На Цхинвали движется колонна русских танков (Russian) and Медведев пообещал наказать Грузию. Lenta.ru. 8 August 2008. Template:Ru icon and Youtube video: Official statement of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev in view of situation in South OssetiaTemplate:Ru icon
186. "Medvedev tells Bush Russia aims to force Georgia to accept peace". RIA Novosti. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
187. Reports: UN Security Council to Discuss S.Ossetia. Civil Georgia. 8 August 2008.
188. Georgian troops, planes, pound separatists Retrieved on 09-08-08
189. "Russia Warned NATO against Further Support of Georgia". Kommersant. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
190. Armed Cossacks pour in to fight Georgians - The Guardian
191. Experts argue over Georgia-Ossetia conflict Retrieved on 09-08-08
192. "Лукин призвал создать международный трибунал по Южной Осетии" (in Russian). Lenta.Ru. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
193. "Радиостанция "Эхо Москвы" / Передачи / Разворот / Пятница, 08.08.2008: Владимир Жириновский, Геннадий Зюганов, Александр Дзасохов, Сергей Митрохин, Никита Белых".
194. "Georgia: In 'state of war' over South Ossetia". Retrieved 2008-08-10.
195. Pleming, Sue (2008-08-09). "U.S. says Russia uses 'disproportionate' force". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
196. ^ Herb Keinon (Aug 11, 2008). "Analysis: Israel tiptoes around conflict". The Jerusalem Post.
197. "Israel backs Georgia in Caspian Oil Pipeline Battle with Russia". Retrieved 2008-08-10.
198. "Jewish Georgian minister: Thanks to Israeli training, we're fending off Russia".
199. "Г.А.Зюганов об итогах встречи представителей думских партий с президентом: КПРФ – за срочное признание независимости Южной Осетии и Абхазии, а также полный разгром агрессора" (in Russian). КПРФ. 2008-08-11. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
200. Gorbachev, Mikhail (2008-08-12). "A Path to Peace in the Caucasus". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
201. Южная Осетия призвала мировое сообщество признать ее независимость. Lenta.ru. August 8, 2008. Template:Ru icon
202. "Абхазия призвала лишить Грузию армии" (in Russian). Lenta.Ru. Retrieved 2008-08-12.

External links

• Georgian Ministry of Defense - site may be down due to cyber attack
• Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - site may be down due to cyber attack
• President of Georgia
• State Committee of Information and Press of the Republic of South Ossetia Template:En icon
• Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation Template:Ru icon
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Template:Ru icon
• UNOMIG (United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia)

Map resources

• Topographic maps of the region from Poyehali

• Current events
• Articles needing cleanup from August 2008
• Cleanup tagged articles without a reason field from August 2008
• Misplaced Pages pages needing cleanup from August 2008
• 2008 South Ossetia war
• Cold War
• Non-combat military operations involving the United States