Russia/Georgia Situation News & Updates

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia

Today, on 15th of August, at approximately 15:30 local time Russian military helicopters started bombing the bordering territories of the City of Borjomi and settlement of Tsemi using incendiary munitions, weapon prohibited by the international convention. The broad areas of timber land have been set on fire and fifteen seats of fire have been broken out in southern part eorgia.

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Originally posted by maloy
I would guess U.S. would be willing to let the two regions separate from Georgia - but it will then make Georgia part of NATO. This is where the situation is heading I think.

What would happen then if Russia didn't want it to seperate, but keep the status quo ?. Is it in their interest for a seperation... you cannot join NATO with a border dispute like this ?

That wouldn't be a way to permanently prevent Georgia joining Nato ?

PM calls for Russia to quit Georgia

Gordon Brown has joined calls for the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Georgia.

The Prime Minister spoke by telephone to President Mikhail Saakashvili following the Georgian leader's meeting in Tbilisi with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"The Prime Minister described Russia's incursion into Georgia as a completely unjustified violation of Georgia's territorial integrity. Russian forces must withdraw immediately," Mr Brown's spokesman said.

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www.alertnet.org...


UK's Brown calls for Russian pullout from Georgia
15 Aug 2008 17:36:17 GMT
Source: Reuters
LONDON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Friday that Russia's incursion into Georgia was completely unjustified and its forces must withdraw immediately.

Brown made the comments in a telephone call with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili after the Georgian leader's meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday, his office said in a statement.

Brown also said that Britain was willing to contribute to an Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitoring mission intended to secure a fragile truce agreed on Tuesday after six days of fighting between Russian and Georgian forces.

"The prime minister described Russia's incursion into Georgia as a completely unjustified violation of Georgia's territorial integrity. Russian forces must withdraw immediately," the statement said.

Brown welcomed Saakashvili's commitment to implement the peace agreement without delay and underlined Britain's support for a peace process, working with partners in the European Union, the OSCE and the United Nations.

Brown also pledged British support for humanitarian relief for the people of Georgia.

Brown has also discussed the crisis with U.S. President George W. Bush, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, his office said. He spoke to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday.

The crisis exploded last Thursday when Georgia sent a force to try to retake its breakaway, pro-Russian province of South Ossetia, provoking a counter-attack by Moscow. Russian troops continue to occupy part of Georgia, although combat has stopped. (Reporting by Adrian Croft; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)

Dang you shark lol.. you beat me by 2 seconds lol

[edit on 15-8-2008 by wolfmanjack]

UN court to consider Georgia plea for Russia order

The highest U.N. court said on Friday it would hold public hearings on Sept. 8-10 to consider Georgia's request for an order to Russia to halt what Georgia describes as violations of ethnic Georgians' human rights.

On Tuesday Georgia filed a lawsuit with the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ), which investigates conflicts between nations, accusing Russia of ethnic cleansing in the provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

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Poland says it is willing to let Russia inspect missile base.

- AP (Sky News TV)

reply to post by Vitchilo


I would not speak on the situation untill I know the facts. This is just a rumor at this point and nothing is certain.

Russia's NATO envoy calls U.S. missile shield 'dead cat'

Russia's ambassador to NATO has compared the U.S. missile defense system to "a dead cat," since its effectiveness can only be verified as a result of reciprocal thermonuclear missile strikes.

Washington says plans to place 10 interceptor missiles in Poland coupled with a radar system in the Czech Republic are intended to counter possible attacks from what it calls "rogue states," including Iran.

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Russia finds Ukrainian car plates at Georgian army base

Moscow intends to send an official request to Kiev to identify Ukrainian diplomatic license plates discovered by Russian intelligence officers at a Georgian military base, Russia's NATO envoy said Friday.

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Originally posted by -Rugged Shark-
Russia finds Ukrainian car plates at Georgian army base

Hoo boy, here comes the setup.

reply to post by Mainer


It's possible. Throw in the weapons found at a base earlier today and tada... new accusations.

Russian tanks advance on Georgian towns - Saakashvili

TBILISI, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Russian tanks have moved on two more towns in central Georgia, widening their "occupation", Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said on Friday.

Saakashvili's claim could not be independently verified.

Saakashvili said the tanks had moved to the towns of Khashari and Borjomi southwest of breakaway South Ossetia, where Russian troops and artillery massed over the past week during fighting with Georgian forces.

"We now have an increasing area of Russian occupation of our territory," Saakashvili told reporters hours after signing a ceasefire agreement brought by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

(AlertNet)

Russians are inching closer to Tbilisi and all the while getting more and more armour into Georgia. They have set up checkpoints ONLY 25 km from Tbilisi. I say they are planning for a full scale attack. Now they are just getting all the armour to that region around Tbilisi and waiting for the right moment.

The west can forget a cease-fire plan by now,should just let Russia fulfill their plan to take Ukraine and Georgia

[edit on 15-8-2008 by Rentor]

Signs of Ethnic Attacks in Georgia Conflict

The identities of the attackers vary, but a pattern of violence by ethnic Ossetians against ethnic Georgians is emerging and has been confirmed by some Russian authorities. “Now Ossetians are running around and killing poor Georgians in their enclaves,” said Maj. Gen. Vyacheslav Nikolaevich Borisov, the commander in charge of the city of Gori, occupied by the Russians.

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reply to post by asen_y2k



A full scale attack? Right in the midst of peace negotiations? And think about how many Western journalists and politicians are currenly in Tbilisi. I doubt Russia is setting up for a stunt like that - it would be severly reckless. It is possible Russia is positioning its forces to remind Saakashvilli who has the upper hand - Russia is not happy with the changes Saaka made to the peace accord.

But at this point nothing would surprise me. Medvedev has been silent for some time now - from Russia it is not clear what is going on.

Bush and co. have already made it abundantly clear that even if Russia pull out of Georgia all together (after their brutal 'bullying' and 'intimidation'), they're going to be 'punished.' I can imagine what Putin and Medvedev are thinking right now.

Heck, why not just get hung for a sheep than a lamb, eh?

Medvedev has been silent for some time now

Mm, and the UN hasn't been able to get in touch with him, either.

Him and Putin are probably up in HQ playing Risk.



[edit on 15-8-2008 by chips]

Russia forces are about less then 70 miles away from Turkey border

reply to post by Rentor


Well, there's a former Russian base just north of the Turkish border. Maybe they're heading for that.

reply to post by -Rugged Shark-


Killing and bombing at the same time if Georgian officials are right that is.But only time will tell