Russia-Georgia Conflict in South Ossetia: Context and Implications for U.S. Interests
Abstract
In the early 1990s, Georgia and its breakaway South Ossetia region had agreed to a Russian-mediated ceasefire that provided for Russian peacekeepers to be stationed in the region. Moscow extended citizenship and passports to most ethnic Ossetians. Simmering long-time tensions erupted on the evening of August 7, 2008, when South Ossetia and Georgia accused each other of launching intense artillery barrages against each other. Georgia claims that South Ossetian forces did not respond to a ceasefire appeal but intensified their shelling, forcing Georgia to send in troops. On August 8, Russia launched large-scale air attacks and dispatched troops to South Ossetia that engaged Georgian forces later in the day. By the morning of August 10, Russian troops had occupied the bulk of South Ossetia, reached its border with the rest of Georgia, and were shelling areas across the border. Russian troops occupied several Georgian cities. Russian warships landed troops in Georgia s breakaway Abkhazia region and took up positions off Georgia's Black Sea coast. On August 12, Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev declared that the aim of Russia s operation for coercing the Georgian side to peace had been achieved.... The aggressor has been punished. Medvedev endorsed some elements of a European Union (EU) peace plan presented by visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The plan calls for both sides to cease hostilities and pull troops back to positions they held before the conflict began. It calls for allowing humanitarian aid and facilitating the return of displaced persons. It calls for the immediate withdrawal of Russian combat troops from Georgia, but allows Russian peacekeepers to remain and to patrol in a security zone outside South Ossetia. The plan also provides for a greater international role in peace talks and peacekeeping, both of seminal Georgian interest. On August 22, the Russian military withdrew from some areas but also continued to occupy other areas.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 22, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA487167
Entities
People
- Jim Nichol
Organizations
- Library of Congress