Georgia

FREEDOM ENOUGH

Dean Omori — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:52:05 +0100

Richard Hughes' photoblog - campaigning for Troy Davis in Washington / Atlanta / Savannah

Richard Hughes — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:39:21 +0100

Russians to boost Abkhazia bases

Niluccio — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:59:32 +0100

Russia is to spend almost $500m (£300m) next year reinforcing its military bases in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia, the prime minister says.

Vladimir Putin's announcement came as he visited the region for talks.

Source: Russians to boost Abkhazia bases

EU asked to pinpoint aggressor in Russia-Georgia war

Niluccio — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:00:31 +0000

Georgia today called for an independent investigation into who started the war between Russia and Georgia in August, amid claims by the Kremlin that the western media now accepts Georgia was the aggressor.

Georgia's ambassador to the UN, Irakli Alasania, has asked the EU to carry out a "very thorough" international investigation into the five-day conflict. Georgia was willing to provide "all" information including classified material to show it was not to blame, he said.

Source: EU asked to pinpoint aggressor in Russia-Georgia war

Civilians in the line of fire: The Georgia-Russia conflict

damianrafferty — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:29:51 +0000

Vladimir Putin 'wanted to hang Georgian President Saakashvili by the balls'

Niluccio — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:34:51 +0000

Nicolas Sarkozy saved the President of Georgia from being hanged “by the balls” — a threat made last summer by Vladimir Putin, according to an account that emerged yesterday from the Élysée Palace.

The Russian Prime Minister had revealed his plans for disposing of Mr Saakashvili when Mr Sarkozy was in Moscow in August to broker a ceasefire in Georgia.

Jean-David Levitte, Mr Sarkozy’s chief diplomatic adviser, reported the exchange in a news magazine before an EU-Russia summit today. The meeting will be chaired by the French leader and President Medvedev.

Source: Vladimir Putin 'wanted to hang Georgian President Saakashvili by the balls'

First EU monitors enter Georgian buffer zones - Europe, World - The Independent

damianrafferty — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:01:15 +0100

An eyewitness told Reuters a second EU patrol, of two vehicles, had crossed into the buffer zone at the village of Karaleti.

The village lies on the main highway leading into South Ossetia from the south, and is part of a sector where human rights groups say marauding paramilitaries have been looting and attacking ethnic Georgian villages since the war.

Source: First EU monitors enter Georgian buffer zones - Europe, World - The Independent

Tel Aviv to Tbilisi: Israel's role in the Russia-Georgia war

krease chan — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:11:19 +0100

From the moment Georgia launched a surprise attack on the tiny breakaway region of South Ossetia last week, prompting a fierce Russian counterattack, Israel has been trying to distance itself from the conflict. This is understandable: with Georgian forces on the retreat, large numbers of civilians killed and injured, and Russia's fury unabated, Israel's deep involvement is severely embarrassing.

Source: Tel Aviv to Tbilisi: Israel's role in the Russia-Georgia war

Continuing concern for civilians after hostilities in Georgia | Amnesty International

damianrafferty — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:12:36 +0100

The organization has also called on all parties to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches all victims of the conflict, whether in Georgia or in Russia, and to ensure that all who fled the hostilities can be guaranteed a safe and lasting return to their homes.

Source: Continuing concern for civilians after hostilities in Georgia | Amnesty International

Russia could push China closer to the west

krease chan — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:31:17 +0100

August 8 has already been pencilled in by some as a turning point in modern history, the day that authoritarianism stood up as a credible force for the first time since the end of the cold war. Television producers did not know where to look. On one screen Chinese drummers were launching the hi-tech opening extravaganza of the Olympics, while on another Russian tanks were filing into Georgian territory.

Source: Russia could push China closer to the west

Seumas Milne: Georgia is the graveyard of America's unipolar world | Comment is free | The Guardian

damianrafferty — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:33:07 +0100

But what is clear is that America's unipolar moment has passed - and the new world order heralded by Bush's father in the dying days of the Soviet Union in 1991 is no more. The days when one power was able to bestride the globe like a colossus, enforcing its will in every continent, challenged only by popular movements for national independence and isolated "rogue states", are now over.

Source: Seumas Milne: Georgia is the graveyard of America's unipolar world | Comment is free | The Guardian

BBC NEWS | World | Russia recognises Georgian rebels

damianrafferty — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:25:21 +0100

"I have signed decrees on the recognition by the Russian Federation of the independence of South Ossetia and the independence of Abkhazia," Mr Medvedev said in the announcement.

Analysts say the move is likely to further escalate tensions between Russia and the West.

Source: BBC NEWS | World | Russia recognises Georgian rebels

BBC NEWS | Nato holds Georgia crisis talks

skylight54 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:41:58 +0100

Officials in Tbilisi said there was no evidence that Russian troops were leaving Georgian territory, but the Russian defence ministry said the redeployment had begun and would be complete within days

Source: BBC NEWS | Nato holds Georgia crisis talks

BBC NEWS | Country profiles | South Ossetia

nairn — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:21:06 +0100

Tensions are never far from the surface and violence flares sporadically. Russia maintains close contacts with the leadership in Tskhinvali where separatists welcome Moscow's supportive stance. To Georgia's deep annoyance, most South Ossetians have Russian passports and the Russian rouble is commonly used in trade.

Source: BBC NEWS | Country profiles | South Ossetia

Letters - Lessons From the Russia-Georgia Clash- NYTimes.com

nairn — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:14:08 +0100

While militarily a success, Russiaâ€™s incursion into Georgia to reassert its sphere of influence in the â€œnear abroadâ€* is political folly.

Source: Letters - Lessons From the Russia-Georgia Clash- NYTimes.com

Georgia and Russia throw sand and insults | Sport | guardian.co.uk

DrPot — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:14:03 +0100

And the gold medal for wishful thinking goes to those within the Olympic Games hierarchy who thought this morning's meeting between Georgia and Russia in the women's beach volleyball tournament would send a message to the world that sport, even the silliest sport of all, has the power to transcend international conflict.

If it does, then clearly someone forgot to pass on the news to Christine Santanna and Andrezza Chagas, wearing the red bikinis of Georgia, and Natalie Uryadova and Alexandra Shiryaeva, fetching in the white swimwear of Russia.............

Source: Georgia and Russia throw sand and insults | Sport | guardian.co.uk

Cameron joins condemnation of Russian action in Georgia | World news | guardian.co.uk

sosj — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:56:47 +0100

Source: Cameron joins condemnation of Russian action in Georgia | World news | guardian.co.uk

Al Jazeera English - Europe - Georgia signs EU cease-fire pledge

Wily Fox — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:52:23 +0100

Source: Al Jazeera English - Europe - Georgia signs EU cease-fire pledge