Abkhaz Leader Has Ordered Army To Sink Any Georgian Ships In Its Waters

Russian Or Georgia To Invade Soon?

Russia has sent a unit of "railroad workers" to Abkhazia, to help repair infrastructure. Georgia says Russia is preparing to invade.


BBC: Russia army unit sent to Abkhazia


RIA Novosti: Georgia accuses Russia of plans to invade Abkhazia

Will Georgia invade? Will Russia invade? Are any of the parts about to attack anybody soon? Seems like everybody is getting ready for war. One false move or oops, and then... ¤Boom!!

NATO Warns Russia

Nato's secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, demands that Russia withdraw the railway troops from Abkhazia.


BBC: Nato warns Russia over Abkhazia

Hellmutt, perhaps you could clarify something for me. Why is the railroad force doing work considered such a threatening act? I understand why they wouldn't want Russian troops there, but at least they're (supposedly) unarmed and doing something positive, right? Obviously I'm missing something.

reply to post by greatpiino


The Russians claim they've sent "unarmed peaceful workers" to Abkhazia. Georgia don't trust them, and NATO sides with Georgia. And from what I understand, Russia is not allowed to send any more "military personnel" into the region, unarmed or not.

Another thing to consider. If Georgia has plans to take Abkhazia by force, the ideal situation for Georgia would be if there were no Russians there at all.

reply to post by Hellmutt

Okay I get it, thanks for your reply. I suppose when you look at it that way, it would make sense. I've followed this thread for a while now, and I have to admit that it's a bit confusing for me at times because I'm really not all that familiar with the situation outside of what I read here. That's why I'm grateful that you've kept this thread active for so long; I hate admitting ignorance on any subject

reply to post by greatpiino


Thanks!

I'm trying to update myself on the situation the best I can, using various sources. But I'm only one man. I have other interests as well, and I need to sleep too. If anyone finds anything interesting regarding the Georgia/Russia/Abkhazia/South Ossetia conflict, I'd appreciate if it was posted in this thread. I know that I've missed many events, but if I've found something, I'll post it if I can.




Latest: The International Crisis Group (ICG) are deeply concerned about the situation in the region.


RFE/RL: ICG Program Director Warns Abkhaz Issue Entering 'Confrontational' Phase

Russians With Missiles Arrested

Fourteen (or four?) Russian peacekeepers have been arrested when they tried to transport guided missiles into Abkhazia.


Deutsche Welle: Georgia detains 14 Russian troops



RIA Novosti: Georgia says four Russian peacekeepers arrested in conflict zone



Here's a video showing the incident. I believe it's from Georgian tv.

Seems like "terrorists" are targeting the Russian railway troops...


RIA Novosti: Security enhanced for Russian railway troops in Abkhazia

Russia Warns Georgia About Detentions

After the latest incident where Russian troops were detained for smuggling missiles into Abkhazia, Russia warns Georgia. Further detentions could end in bloodshed.


RIA Novosti: Russia warns Georgia detaining peacekeepers may end in bloodshed-2

Secret Talks In Sweden

Abkhazia and Georgia held secret talks in Sweden last week.


Georgia and Abkhazia hold secret talks in Sweden

Bomb explodes on Georgia-Abkhazia border

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — A bomb exploded Wednesday in the tense border area between Georgia and the separatist province of Abkhazia, Georgian and Russian officials said.

No one was reported injured in the blast, the third such incident this week in or near Abkhazia, where tensions are high.

Russia said it suspects Georgia aims to forcefully regain control of Abkhazia; Georgia in turn said Russia wants to annex the region.

Video: Abkhazia shuts border after 'Georgian terrorist attacks' -RussiaToday

Heavy artillery fire in South Ossetia!


RussiaToday: South Ossetia threatens Georgia with retaliation

Shelling reported in Georgia's breakaway region

Residential districts in the capital of South Ossetia, Georgia's breakaway republic, have come under heavy artillery fire, according to reports. Mortars and grenades are said to be being used. All of South Ossetia's military have been placed on high alert.

At least three people were killed and many wounded.


BBC: Georgia 'shells breakaway region'

Georgia Planned To Invade Abkhazia

Georgia planned to invade Abkhazia in April/May, according to Sergei Bagapsh, the leader of Abkhazia. They planned to launch two simultaneous land offensives and a seaborne assault on Ochamchira, Sukhumi, and Gagra.


RIA Novosti: Abkhaz leader says Georgia planned to invade Abkhazia in spring -2

Here's two additional articles that came out today:

Russia says Georgia could spark new war in Abkhazia: agency

MOSCOW (AFP) — Russia's defence ministry on Saturday accused Georgia of harbouring plans to take back the separatist province of Abkhazia by force that could trigger a war, Interfax news agency reported.

"Such plans thought up by Tbilisi cannot be seen as anything other than the latest step aimed at escalating tensions in the region, which could turn the conflict into a new war," Interfax quoted a ministry spokesman as saying.

The leader of the separatists in Abkhazia, Sergei Bagapsh, earlier on Saturday said he had been informed of aborted plans for a major military operation by Georgian forces in April or May of this year, Interfax said.

reuters.com - Russia asks Georgia not to stir tensions in regions

ASTANA, July 5 (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev urged Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on Saturday to refrain from "stoking tensions" in Georgia's breakaway regions.

Medvedev and Saakashvili attended celebrations for the 10-year anniversary of the world's youngest capital, Astana, which was made the capital by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

"The president (Medvedev) drew Saakashvili's attention to the need to refrain from stoking tensions in the region and also stressed the need to continue talks with all parties involved," a Kremlin spokesman told reporters.

Escalating tensions in the region...

More blasts today, conflicting reports...

Blasts raise tension on Georgia's border with Abkhazia

TBILISI, Georgia: Four bombs exploded Sunday in the tense border area between Georgia and the breakaway province of Abkhazia, officials said, in the latest sign of growing tensions between Georgia and separatists. No injuries were reported.

Blasts shake Georgia conflict zone, one killed

TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgian officials said six explosions struck on both sides of a de facto border between Georgia and its breakaway Abkhazia region on Sunday, killing one person.

Abkhazia cuts all ties with Georgia, blames Georgian officials for recent attacks.

Georgian rebel region cuts ties with government: report

MOSCOW (AFP) — Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia is to cut all ties with the national government, rebel leader Sergei Bagapsh was quoted as saying Monday after blaming Georgian officials for recent attacks.

"Abkhazia is ending all contacts with Georgia due to Tbilisi's policy of state terrorism," said Sergei Bagapsh, Abkhazia's de facto leader, quoted by Russia's Interfax news agency.

"Terrorist acts in Gagra, Sukhumi and Gali are links in the same chain and we cannot fail to react," Bagapsh said.

Yet again, Sunday night, another explosion...

Blast in Georgian Rebel Region Kills 4

MOSCOW — An explosion in a cafe in a separatist region of the former Soviet republic of Georgia killed four people Sunday night, including a security service official from the rebel government. Six people were injured in the blast.

It was latest in at least half a dozen bombings in less than a week in Abkhazia and the first to cause deaths.

Originally posted by Hellmutt
Georgia Planned To Invade Abkhazia

Georgia planned to invade Abkhazia in April/May, according to Sergei Bagapsh, the leader of Abkhazia. They planned to launch two simultaneous land offensives and a seaborne assault on Ochamchira, Sukhumi, and Gagra.

Here's the video of the Abkhazian President making the
accusations, and showing the maps of the planned invasion
Video: Breakaway region shows map of alleged Georgian invasion -RussiaToday

Today's updates:

Condi plans trip to Tbilisi.
Reuters- Violence mars Russia-Georgia talks before Rice trip

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Bombings and gun battles in two breakaway regions of Georgia are threatening efforts to ease a standoff between Tbilisi and Moscow, hours before U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits the Georgian capital.

Rice, who arrives in Tbilisi on Wednesday, is expected to appeal for restraint on all sides but also express support for former Soviet Georgia's push to join the NATO military alliance, an ambition that has angered Russia.

iStockAnalyst- Georgian President Hails Importance of US State Secretary's Visit

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has said the upcoming visit on 9 July of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will "significantly facilitate the development of the Georgian state". At a meeting of the National Security Council broadcast by Georgian TV stations, he said that in addition to the fact that it was an important show of political support, the visit would also encourage foreign investment in Georgia and, by extension, improve the economy and reduce poverty.

AFP- Russia says Georgia whipping up tensions with separatists

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) — Russia on Tuesday accused Georgia of whipping up tensions with its separatist foes and of trying to derail peace negotiations over the conflicts in breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"We expressed our deep concern about the latest action of the Georgian side," Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin told reporters after raising the issue during a closed-door meeting of the 15-member Security Council.

Reuters- Russia submits UN draft text critical of Georgia

UNITED NATIONS, July 8 (Reuters) - Russia put a draft resolution before the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday calling on Georgia to defuse tensions with breakaway Abkhazia after a deadly weekend bomb blast in the region.
...
It demanded "the Georgian side take urgent steps" to ensure that no unauthorized troops were present in the flashpoint Kodori Valley, where the de facto border between Georgia and Abkhazia runs.

It also urged both sides, "in particular Tbilisi," to address each other's legitimate security concerns and refrain from acts of violence or provocation.

Meanwhile in Abkhazia...
IHT- Abkhazia rejects U.S. proposals for an international police presence

SUKHUMI, Georgia: The breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia has rejected a U.S. proposal to deploy an international police force there, the leader of Abkhazia said Tuesday.

The regional government, which is not internationally recognized, instead pledged to keep Russian peacekeepers in place, despite accusations from Georgia that they are fomenting tensions.

"We are not going to listen to any recommendations from the State Department, which always has a unilaterally pro-Georgian position," said Sergei Bagapsh, the leader of Abkhazia.

In South Ossetia-
AFP- Georgian rebel region calls for peace talks: report

MOSCOW (AFP) — The head of Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia region on Tuesday called for talks with Tbilisi to defuse mounting tensions over the Moscow-backed region, Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency reported.

South Ossetia "is extending a hand of friendship, calling on Georgia to forget about aggression and sit down at the negotiating table," the news agency quoted South Ossetian president Eduard Kokoity as saying.

Tensions in the region soared last week after separatists said two people were killed by intense shelling from Georgia and threatened to retaliate with heavy weapons.

RIA Novosti- S.Ossetia asks for international intervention in Georgia conflict

MOSCOW, July 8 (RIA Novosti) - Authorities in South Ossetia, a breakaway Georgian region, said in a letter to the OSCE made public on Tuesday that the international community must not stand by and allow the regional conflict to escalate.

The rebel province, where tensions have been escalating since a shootout last week, has accused Georgia of planning an all-out military invasion, and says Tbilisi has been boosting its military presence on the border in recent days.

Four Georgian military officers were released Tuesday after being detained earlier in the day in the conflict zone. South Ossetia accused them of being on a reconnaissance mission while Georgia said they were returning from visiting friends.

It appears the situation in the region is continuing to deteriorate. Russia has admitted to violating Georgian airspace, in response, Georgia has recalled its ambassador to Russia, increasing tensions further.

Georgian Military Threatens Russia

(TBILISI, Georgia) — A Georgian official warned Russia on Friday that it will have to "collect the shattered fragments" of its planes if they intrude on Georgian airspace again.

Russia has confirmed that four of its planes circled over the Georgian breakaway province of South Ossetia late Wednesday for about 40 minutes, and said the mission was ordered to head off a possible "invasion" of the region by Georgian troops.

Georgia, which has accused Russia of aiming to annex the province, said the mission was an illegal invasion of Georgian airspace.

Georgia: Ambassador to Russia Recalled

Georgia recalled its ambassador to Russia for consultations after the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that a Russian military aircraft had flown over a breakaway, pro-Moscow region of Georgia this week. The flight, and Georgia’s response, further escalated tensions between Russia and Georgia, a former Soviet republic, as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital.

Here's a great video on this situation, its 13 minutes long so it may take some time to load, but the 3 analysts she interviews give a some good insight.
Video: Georgia recalls ambassador from Russia - RussiaToday


This is a significant move for Georgia. It always seems like war is about to break out in this region, everything reaches a boiling point, but then it usually settles down. It will be interesting to see how this situation develops, hopefully for the better.