Russia/Georgia Situation News & Updates

These war games between both Russia and US, especially where tensions are high, is dangerous muscle-flexing.


The US War games will only encourage Saakashvili to think the US will come to his aid should he try to take South Ossetia and Abkhazia and Russia responds.


Hence why Russia is doing it's own war games at the same time.


Perhaps the US wargames is a reassurance to Saakashvili that "We are still with you" after the US-Russia summit where relations appeared to warm.


I hope the US wargames are not a precursor to something should Saakashvili decide to repeat his behaviour from last year.

Perhaps this is a US attempt to reign in Saakashvili from attacking South Ossetia and Abkhazia again, by having warships there.


I'm being wildly optimistic I think, as US naval forces in the area will only embolden Saakashvili again to repeat himself, hence the Russian war games at the same time.

Biden: U.S. Supports Ukraine's Bid to Join NATO

That is retarded. And very dangerous.

Biden in Georgia reaffirms support

And if you wanted a proof that Saakasvilli is a dumbass...

The US Vice President Joe Biden has traveled to Georgia to reaffirm support for the country, where US and Russian interests have collided in recent years.

On Wednesday, in an ironic start to his visit, Biden's motorcade traveled along George W. Bush Avenue, the main thoroughfare linking Tbilisi's airport with the city center, re-named several years ago in honor of the former US president.

He freaking named a important avenue the George W. Bush avenue... what a freaking joke.

reply to post by Vitchilo


Biden can talk about Ukraine joining NATO all he wants, but it is simply not happening now. The only political figure in Ukraine who currently supports the idea is Yuschenko, but now that he has only 4% support rating and no power over parliament he can't pass the decision to join NATO. Parliament will vote down his decision for sure. Plus it has already been said that the only way Ukraine will decide on NATO, is through a nation-wide referendum, and there are more people opposed to NATO membership in Ukraine than those supporting it.

As for Georgia joining NATO - out of the question. European NATO members are firmly against the idea, and without their approval it is not happening. Too much political instability and volatility in the country to make it a trustworthy ally.



And I wonder if Saakashvili will get the bright idea to rename George Bush street to Barack Obama street? Or better yet - maybe he can name another street after Obama. Also add Biden and Clinton streets. Heck why not just rename Tbilisi as New Washington DC - as if Georgia under Saakashvili is not yet a complete circus.

Totally agree Maloy...

And I wonder if Saakashvili will get the bright idea to rename George Bush street to Barack Obama street? Or better yet - maybe he can name another street after Obama. Also add Biden and Clinton streets. Heck why not just rename Tbilisi as New Washington DC - as if Georgia under Saakashvili is not yet a complete circus.

That is funny. Still him renaming an avenue George W. Bush is freaking retarded and show how he is bought and paid for, using 9 years old level tricks to get support...

reply to post by Vitchilo


Well hey, at least George Bush has something named after him after 8 years in power. Time well spent. Now if US only followed up with a friendly gesture and renamed Pennsylvania avenue in DC as Mikheil Saakashvili avenue. That would be a true sign of friendship between the two glorious democracies.

Ironically Saakashvili named it George Bush street to demonstrate Georgia's independence. Here is an idea - lets name a main street in the capital after the President of a superpower empire that is trying to expand its reach in the region - in order to prove how free and independent we are. We'll even wave around US flags and start speaking English - to further demonstrate that we are not influenced by anyone.

There is only one way to follow it up - build a huge statue of Obama in the center of Tbilisi with stairs leading up to his ass. Saakashvili can climb up and kiss it as a daily routine.

[edit on 22-7-2009 by maloy]

There is only one way to follow it up - build a huge statue of Obama in the center of Tbilisi with stairs leading up to his ass. Saakashvili can climb up and kiss it as a daily routine.

I love russian humor.

Georgia to Ask U.S. for Advanced Weaponry

Georgia's president was expected to ask Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday for advanced weaponry and U.S. observers to monitor a cease-fire.

My god...will this ever stop? I wonder what kind of advanced weaponry will he ask for... probably anti-air defense, anti-tank weapons...IMO that's the best case scenario for him... which will probably never happen anyway. But if they decide to give him something it will be that and that's it. Maybe a few M-16... I would be scared if the US would give him AH-64 and M1 abrams...

President Mikhail Saakashvili also plans to urge Biden at a meeting in his presidential offices to push for NATO membership for Georgia, despite skepticism among some other members of the Western military alliance.

The White House has so far avoided making any public commitment on arms or observers, although it says it stands behind Georgia's application for NATO membership despite determined opposition from Russia.

Again asking for NATO... yeah good luck with that. Until Europe can be energy independant from Russia, and even then... it won't happen unless elections put in real anti-russians in France, Italy and Germany. And even then, the new NATO chief is supposed to be pro-peace with Russia...

But Biden's message on the trip so far has been that restoring cordial relations with the Kremlin will not come at the price of weakening support for democratic allies in the region.

This is a total joke. Democratic allies? ARE YOU KIDDING? Georgia is NOT a democracy and Ukraine could be way better.

In Wednesday's banquet speech, Biden called Saakasvhili's 2003 Rose Revolution, which drove a Soviet-era leader from power, "a clarion call for freedom-loving people around the globe."

Epic BS. That Rose revolution was a CIA backed revolution...

He said the U.S. encouraged the growth of civil societies that "hold all governments accountable, yours and mine accountable."

At one point, Biden said in a joking manner: "You mentioned protesters. Welcome to democracy."

That is funny since protesters are considered LOW-LEVEL TERRORISTS in america...And hold governments accountable... HAHAHAHAHHAHAHHA


EDIT: POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS.

Reuters: Russia will take "concrete measures" to prevent Georgia from re-arming after its war with Moscow last year.
CONCRETE MEASURES? What happens if the US agrees to re-arm Georgia? Will Russia send Mig to intercept air supply or warships to stop US convoys of material? Or do a blockade of Georgia?

Another source..
Russia warns Georgia as Biden visits

Russia vowed on Thursday to prevent its pro-Western neighbor Georgia from rearming and threatened nations who helped it, in a harsh warning timed to coincide with U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden's visit to Tbilisi.

Moscow issued its broadside as Biden sat down to closed-door talks with Russia's arch-foe President Mikheil Saakashvili in Tbilisi. Tensions between Russia and its former Soviet vassal are rising ahead of the first anniversary next month of their war.

Can you confirm Maloy that tensions are rising or it's just journalistic hype?

And look at this lie...

Moscow is angry because it believes Georgian aggression started the war and says the West fails to understand that Saakashvili is a dangerous leader bent on fresh conflict.

Because it believes... HAHAHAHA... it's established fact that Georgia started the war... Disgusting.

Or (more likely I hope)Russia will do a deal with the US so US don't rearm Georgia...

Is it me or Russia just found their balls? Between that and Tartus in Syria... all in such a short time... maybe Russia understands that Obama is continuing Bush's BS on the missile shield in eastern europe...

[edit on 23-7-2009 by Vitchilo]

I hope that i am wrong, but lately there is a lot of signs of trouble on Russian (aka South Ossetian) unrecognized border with Georgia.
It all started when Azerbaijan oil/gas pipeline via Georgia idea got new life. Probably Russian leaders fear loss of influence on EU, not to mention financial issues.
So those kind of news comes from the area:

South Ossetia accused Georgian forces of firing mortars at the rebel territory on Saturday and Russia warned Tbilisi it reserved the right to use force to defend civilians a year after their five-day war.

sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/09/MNDG127U55.DTL

South Ossetia intends to demand the return of its former territory, the Truso Gorge, which is currently a part of Georgia, the former Georgian republic's president said on Friday.

en.rian.ru...
My guess is that since Russians failed to drive pro-Western Saakashvilli in last coup attempt they would use force to remove this potentially dangerous oil route from Western influence. I fear another war, with some hollow excuse again.

[edit on 1-8-2009 by ZeroKnowledge]

[edit on 1-8-2009 by ZeroKnowledge]

I posted this on another thread regarding South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Russia and Georgia, and I think it's relevant to post this here too:




South Ossetia under fire from Georgian territory - Russia Today


From the Link:

One year since the military conflict in the Caucasus, it is feared that hostilities might resume. South Ossetian authorities claim the republic’s capital Tskhinval was attacked from a Georgian village.


Two shells were reportedly fired from around five kilometers away from the Georgian village of Nikozi during the night. Luckily, no one was injured, a source at the Ossetian Defense Ministry told Interfax agency.

This follows reports that one man has been killed and several people injured at the border between Georgia and South Ossetia


According to a source at the South Ossetian information ministry, quoted by RIA Novosti agency, the shells targeted residential buildings.

The source added that it is the first case of Tskhinval coming under fire since the Georgian attack on South Ossetia in August last year.

At the same time, Tbilisi claims its village was also fired upon from South Ossetian territory.

Russia warns Georgia as S.Ossetia tensions rise


From the link:

By Matt Robinson

TBILISI (Reuters) - South Ossetia accused Georgian forces of firing mortars at the rebel territory on Saturday and Russia warned Tbilisi it reserved the right to use force to defend civilians a year after their five-day war.

Georgia denied any shooting took place and, amid rising tension ahead of the Aug 7 anniversary of the war, said the Russian statement suggested "aggressive intent". Analysts warn of the risk of skirmishes boiling over into renewed hostilities.

South Ossetia said two mortar rounds were fired at a military observation post from the village of Ditsi on the Georgian side of the de facto border, which runs a few hundred metres from the southern edge of the rebel capital Tskhinvali.

South Ossetia made a similar accusation on Thursday, and a Reuters reporter heard two loud blasts from the rebel capital Tskhinvali but could not identify the cause.

"In the event of further acts of provocation threatening the population of the republic and the Russian military contingent based in the territory of South Ossetia, the Russian Defence Ministry reserves the right to use all available force and means to defend the citizens of the republic of South Ossetia and Russian servicemen," the ministry said in a statement, Russia's Interfax news agency reported.

Tensions are rising, and strangely, none of this is being reported by the BBC. Anyone seen it reported on any other MSM like CNN etc?

Russia warns Georgia against further provocations.


From the website of the Russian Ministry of Defense:
The message of the press service and information from the Ministry of Defense (Google translated from Russian to English)

1.08.2009

In case of further provocation, a threat to the population of the republic and the Russian troops stationed on the territory of South Ossetia, the Ministry of Defense of Russia reserves the right to use all available forces and means to protect the citizens of the Republic of South Ossetia and Russian troops.

Related thread

Last time a war started, Georgia killed hundreds of South Ossetia civilians and killed Russian peacekeepers basically in their sleep.

But now the situation is different since South Ossetia/Abkhazia are considered ``russian territory``... So IMO, unless a russian soldier or dozens of civilians are killed, there will be no war...

EDIT: Interfax: Georgia says it regards Russian statement on using its military to protect South Ossetia as a threat.

I hope that if a war happens, Russia will go all the way and hang that son of a bitch Saakasvilli.

[edit on 1-8-2009 by Vitchilo]

reply to post by Vitchilo

I hope that if a war happens, Russia will go all the way and hang that son of a bitch Saakasvilli.

You do understand how it all can develop ,don't you? Russia can't do actually anything worse ,for its people , for Georgians or for ordinary people in West. Cold war in the best possible outcome, and then only military industrial corporations win. All for oil pipe. Again.

I don't want war, I don't want human beings being killed. I'm just saying that if war breaks out, I hope Russia get Saakasvilli and blast him or at least give him to his people for war crimes trials.

The georgian people want that disgusting human being out of office. He's being supported by NATO. He's a dictator.

If war happens, Russia should go in, take out Saakasvilli, give him back to it's people, leave, and ask them to be a part of the SCO.

And yeah I know how this could go to... I watched the last war on this very topic... Russia deployed tactical nuclear weapons last year and said that if NATO tried to help the Georgian army, they would use those nukes.

So yes, I know. I was scared last year when I red that report.

EDIT2: Only a week after Biden went to Georgia, the whole thing may turn into a war... coincidence? NOT.

EDIT3: Just found this... A new insight.. Ex-Soviet states meet for 'Russian NATO' summit

This meeting took place yesterday... now it heats up today... Is this a ploy by NATO to get Russia to go in Georgia, to sacrifice Georgia so the former soviet states see Russia as dangerous and therefore abandon the idea of the CSTO? Maybe.

[edit on 1-8-2009 by Vitchilo]

reply to post by Vitchilo


Hi Vitchilo/

Turkish Weekly

Joe Bidden, good for the Jews

If war breaks out,it wont end there!

ICXC NIKA
helen

It does make you wonder whether Saakashvili is playing a game with NATO, where he does something that makes Russia go after him, and then when this happens, he turns to NATO and says "Is NATO too weak to help me?"


I'm hoping NATO don't fall for it. Or should I say, I hope NATO are not in on his plan to take on Russia.


I'm convinced that last year Saakashvili thought NATO/EU would wage WW3 on Russia for him, and he thought the quickest way to do this was not only attacking South Ossetia and Abkhazia (which he wanted to do), but out and out killing Russian peacekeepers and then have the EU flag in the background when he was on Television.


Now, was he encouraged by NATO to attack South Ossetia and Abkhazia and kill Russian peacekeepers, in an aim to show Russia as weak and unwilling to respond to other prospective NATO members?


Or did Saakashvili believe in his actions, NATO would support him?


Well, Russia did respond. The fact that Saakashvili is still as he realistically is, the mayor of Tbilisi (President of Georgia? He's not that powerful) is because Russia showed restraint.


Russia did just enough to say "We will let you stay, but you know we could have had your guts for garters. Now behave."


Russia believed this would be enough to make Saakashvili behave himself.


Unfortunatly, Saakashvili is a repugnant little nationalist who can not allow two regions of ethnic peoples to have their freedom from Georgian rule. It's against his narrow-minded nationalistic mindset. He also thinks taking on Russia may get NATO to help him, especially as they did not help him in his warmongering last year. He made NATO look weak, and Russia was portrayed as the big bad Bear bullying a smaller nation.


If Saakashvili repeats himself, NATO needs to distance itself, if it has not already.

reply to post by Hellmutt


Expect war within a few days.

Georgia interprets the statement as a provocative measure, possible act of war. The Georgian authorities have not denied shelling South Ossetia.

And, regarding Obama agreeing transport to Afghanistan within Russia territory, will the President let the tanks roll into the Georgian capital?

Update... I think this is all related to this declaration by South Ossetia Friday...

South Ossetia to make territorial claim on Georgian gorge

South Ossetia intends to demand the return of its former territory, the Truso Gorge, which is currently a part of Georgia, the former Georgian republic's president said on Friday.

"We have serious territorial issues which have to be raised. And we will raise them. This is about the Truso Gorge, currently a part of Georgia's Mtskheta-Mtianeti region - this is an indigenously Ossetian land that for some unclear reason was transferred during Soviet times to the administrative control of the Georgian Soviet Republic," Eduard Kokoity told RIA Novosti.

"Today we must raise the issue of returning these lands to Ossetia," he said.

I'm pretty sure Georgia is pissed at that...

Saakashvili won't like this....


Russian border guards begin patrolling border of South Ossetia and Georgia

From the link:

TSKHINVALI. July 31 (Interfax) - Head of the Russian Border Service
Vladimir Pronichev on Friday informed South Ossetian President Eduard
Kokoity that Russian border guards have begun patrolling the border
between South Ossetia and Georgia.
"By way of implementing the decisions that you and President Dmitry
Medvedev made we have started guarding the state border and today we
have a fully deployed grouping and all the necessary reserves,"
Pronichev said to Kokoity.

They might have been who the Georgian shelling was aimed at?


Imagine what would have happened if they had killed some of those Russian border guards....





[edit on 2-8-2009 by Regensturm]

The same story begins again exactly one year later?
What a singular coincidence! Or not?