Shattered Georgia pays high price for peace

The Times
August 13, 2008

Charles Bremner in Moscow
Tony Halpin in Gori
Tim Reid in Washington

A victorious Kremlin agreed to a ceasefire in the Caucasus last night on terms that left Georgia and its Western backers weakened.

After five days of fighting, President Medvedev of Russia ordered his troops in South Ossetia to hold their fire and fixed a six-point peace plan with President Sarkozy of France.

The deal, confirmed by Georgia’s President Saakashvili last night, did not address the future of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the two breakway provinces that want closer links with Russia.

The Russia-Georgia grudge match Simon Sebag Montefiore says retaking Ossetia is just one part of Russia's campaign to reassert dominance and defy the US

The French President, negotiating on behalf of the EU, insisted that Moscow had promised to respect Georgia’s sovereignty even though the proposals raised questions about its territorial integrity.

In the United States, there was widespread dismay over the ease with which Moscow had imposed its will on a loyal US ally.

Mr Sarkozy spent three hours hammering out the details with Mr Medvedev and Vladimir Putin, the Russian Prime Minister.

It was agreed that forces would withdraw to their positions before Georgia attacked last Thursday, allowing aid workers to attend a civilian population which, according to the Russians, has suffered up to 2,000 casualties.

However, fighting continued after the ceasefire was announced. Forces backed by Russia launched an offensive in the only part of Abkhazia still under Georgian control. An area near the town of Gori was bombed. A Dutch television cameraman was killed by a shell, and his colleague was wounded. The Times was shown a fragment of what appeared to be a Grad missile that had struck an apartment building behind the main square.

The peace talks were delayed by arguments over Russia’s determination to “mop up pockets of resistance”, according to the French.

About 135 Russian military vehicles were seen driving through Georgia en route to the Kodori Gorge in Abkhazia, the last zone held by the Georgians. Abkhazian officials later claimed that their forces, not the Russians, had captured the area.

Later, Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, appeared to toughen the ceasefire terms, saying that Georgia must also sign a binding treaty on the nonuse of force. He also demanded the departure of President Saakashvili.

Mr Medvedev made clear with angry and sometimes crude remarks that Moscow blamed Tbilisi for the violence and aimed to hammer home its advantage. Without mentioning President Saakashvili, Mr Medvedev said that Tbilisi had committed genocide and that its leaders should face punishment for “ethnic cleansing”. He said: “When crazy people smell blood, it’s impossible to stop them. You have to use surgery to stop them.”

He also accused the West of using double standards by supporting the independence of the Serbian province of Kosovo this year while protecting “bastards and terrorists” with talk about inviolable sovereignty.

Both Georgia and Russia said that they were planning to file complaints of “ethnic cleansing” against one another at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The Georgian Government again accused the Russians of massacre.

Last night, in a show of solidarity with Georgia, the leaders of five former communist countries appeared on stage in central Tbilisi and linked arms in front of tens of thousands of demonstrators.

Viktor Yushchenko, the Ukrainian President, told the crowd: “You have the right to freedom and independence. We are here to demonstrate our solidarity . . . freedom is worth fighting for.” President Kaczynski of Poland said: “This country [Russia] seeks to restore its dominance, but the time of dominance is over.”

In Washington, conservatives said that the Russian invasion had inflicted profound damage on the goal of helping aspiring democracies in the Caucasus. Ariel Cohen, a senior research fellow at the Washington-based Heritage Foundation, said that the Russian invasion was the West’s hour of truth. Russia, he said, had shown that it could sabotage American and EU efforts to integrate emerging democracies into Western structures such as Nato.

Mr Sarkozy, who had to juggle opposing views among fellow EU leaders, said that the priority was a ceasefire, not passing judgment. He also proposed EU peacekeepers if all sides wanted them. EU leaders were split last March over the US plan to offer Georgia Nato membership. Italy and Germany were opposed while Poland and the other former Soviet satellite states were in favour.

Mr Putin’s presence at the peace talks shows that he retains supreme power. His well-planned military operation underlined the West’s weakness in the face of Russia. It especially embarrassed the United States, which has strongly promoted Mr Saakashvili’s Government as a democratic model in Moscow’s back yard.

Georgians paid a high price for peace but they haven't had their capital sacked and they seem united and defiant so in some ways they seem stronger then ever.

It is certain nations in Eruope that seem unbelievably weaker then ever.

Tony, Los Angeles, USA

Putin has been itching to get stuck into Georgia. This is not the first time Putin has interfered in the internal affairs of a previous state of the USSR. Once an agent of the KGB always an agent of the KGB. He has destroyed democracy in Russia and those who support his nationalistic ideals.

Glen, Johannesburg,

It's enough to see, who started the fire, to understand who is agressor.
For all, who's afraid of Russia, look: we don't want Georgian:
1) territory, as the region is too problematic :(
2) gas, as we have enough :)
And if someone starts to kill your people, I wish you government act, like ours!

Sasha, St.Petersburg, Russia

This article underlines what a victory this has been for the Georgian government, they have clearly won the PR war. We must not forget that it was in fact the Georgians who provoked the Russians into war after a long war of words. The Russians are by no means innocent, but neither are the Georgians.

Gullik, Oslo, Norway

Please don't judge Russia by reference to ancient history. It is no longer messianic or ruled by bloodthirsty Georgian Bolsheviks. Give us some time to grow our middle class, and you'll see a perfectly 'normal' nation. Until then, don't kill our nationals by the thousand and don't steal our gas.

Anatoly, Moscow,

"In a televised address, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has vowed to restore Tbilisi's control over what he called the "criminal regime" in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and reinforce order."

Well they did their best, you can give them that. They should have bought even more RM-70 to finish it.

George, Cluj,

It is inconcievable that so many comments seem to ignore the fact that it was Georgian troops who attacked Tsklinvali that started off this battle. I am a "Westerner" but am surprised that so many people comment without bothering to read the facts.

Trevor Greenwood, Vancouver, Canada

I am a grassroots american from Texas. I say as my fellow Americans. We should leave all of Europe, Asia and the world for that matter to fend for themselves. We don't want to give our money away any more in moranic deals to save this country or that. America is tired of paying & dying for you

Bob, San Antonio, TX, USA

Gin, Vilnius , Lithuania - I see nothing in international law that allows a country (Georgia in this instance) to attack a province at night and aim at civilians, raze a city and many villages to the ground, push women and children into barns and set them on fire, and shoot down fleeing civilians.

Vera Chevrolet Hart, Geneva, Switzerland

Dan, in Ukraine and Estonia there are no peacekeepers on duty, and Kaliningrad luckily is not being shelled in the middle of the night by heavy artillery alike Tshinvali,so luckily there peace now. Hope it won't change. And let's not forget we all live in the world where propaganda washes our brains

Igor, Moscow, Russia

You saying that Russia will start invading other post-USSR countries are crazy. You understand nothing! You never lived neither in Russian nor in any post-USSR countries. It can happen only if Ukraine by some reason will start killing Russian-speaking citizens or Ukraine. But this will never happen

Andrei, Brest, Belarus

Us UK citizens should stop making fun of Americans who we constantly taunt about knowing nothing about the world. Our news blame Russia for the fighting and we believe it. Yet they only responded to an offensive from Georgia.

Russia did nothing wrong. Is our media really so free and fair??

Will C, London,

After all this mess, Russia comes out admirable. Georgia is increasingly seen as the aggressor, making a stupid tactical error. Let that be a lesson to all who resort to violence to solve problems.

James, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Governments of West Countries are blind again (1920, 1939) - Russia pretends to protect their citizens, in fact Russia tends to: 1. take control of alternative source of gas and oil from Azerbeigan and Georgia; 2. show its imperial power and no respect to normal, modern civilisation standards.

Stefan, Kielce, Poland

If any side has effected ethnic cleansing they should be held liable. The USA hypocritic cries about international laws & sovereignty of Georgia are only laughable when they are Gold medalists in ignoring the United Nations and international rule of law.

How about Kosovo? Cyprus? Iraq? Panama?

Peter, Nicosia, Cyprus

Does Georgia have the responsibility to protect the lives and welfare of all its citizens? Be they ethnic Georgians or Russians? How long have the Russians been in S. Ossetia? When does a state loose its legit? Washington should revisit its conceptual framework and charter before it gets more mired.

Costas E. Ioannou, Limassol, Cyprus

The conscequences of this skirmish are yet to be seen.. don't pop the Champagne bottle as yet. Russian enemies ( Ukraine, Georgia, Lithuania, Estonia, )will probably arm themselves to the teeth and it will not be so easy next time.

Brendan, Stutgart, Germany

The international law is one the Georgian side.

Gin, Vilnius , Lithuania

Let's give the people of S. Ossetia and Abkhazia free referendum to decide which state they would like to be part of. Whether they would like to join RUSSIA, GEORGIA or establish a independent republic. That is the best way to measure what the people of these regions want.

Naleen Lal, Northern California,

Which country will Russia walk over and into next week - and the week after?

With no significant resistance - Russia can easily re-occupy all the old Soviet bloc countries - and no one will lift a finger.

Looking at the map, my guess is Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and maybe Belarus? Easy.

Bob Brown, Carlsbad, USA, California

S. Ossetia and Abkhazia want to be Russians. S. Ossetia had a democratic election 15 years ago and 95% showed up and 98% voted to be Russian and not Georgian.

Is this the democracy that is being stifled, Mr Bush?

Russia has been very reasonable and fair. Georgia is a puppet regime of Israel/US!

D.A., Dallas, USA

I feel it is admirable Russia came swiftly to prevent more genocide among their area they were peace keepers of who it was Georgia who slaughtered not the other way.

I found it atrocious Bush flew Georgia troops in from Iraq.

Did Georgia get Diebold voting machines for their "democracy"?

Arielle, Ashland, U.S.

The West has paid a modest price for learning what Russia has become as its nascent freedom and democracy have aborted. Now we know we face a dictatorship bent on aggression to reclaim what the Soviet Empire lost. NATO will revitalize; Europe will arm; the U.S. become realistic. Priceless clarity.

Walter, East Hampton, USA

Lets see, USA invades Iraq, Russia invades Georgia, both have oil in the ground on in the pipe line.
Whats the big difference?

Jim, usa

jim, Checotah, USA

how come south ossetia doesn't want to be province of georga but wants to be a province of russia?
i would have thought they would want their own country by joining with north ossetia. looks like out of the small frying pan called georgia and into the large fire called russia....
ben sutherland, kirkcaldy, scotland

In fact it doesnt matter who started military actions. Russia tryed to protect its nationals or its neigbours - and was condemned by leading developed states. This story will continue for ages (i hope). Big russian bear frightened all civilised people as usual.

Artem, Arkhangelsk, Russia

Whatever Russia does, the West will always condemn it! Saakashvili is a direct successor of Josef Stalin. Do not forget that Stalin and Lavrenti Beria, one of the darkest people of the 20th century were Georgians! It is Georgia which is obliged to respond for their crimes!!!

Eva, Moscow, Russia

Let's not forget it was Georgia that began the war. The airstrikes of the capital of SO killed more than 1500 people. Nobody in Russia wants this war, neighter Putin nor ordinary people

Dmitry, Moscow, Russia

Kate , how do you know that Gori was not bombed, were you there?
Gerard, one suspects that the Ossetians, North and South ,would prefer to be free from both Russians and Georgians as would the Abkhazians, but will never be given the opportunity.

Chekists are already Dacha hunting in Abkhazia.

Dr Andris Lielmanis, Brampton, Canada.

Why comentators from West forgeting what they done in Iraq and Afganistan. UK and US not far behind Russia.

Raimund, Kent, UK

Let's not forget Russia has more of its citizens abroad ''that need defending'' and more of this will come when Russia cannot engage in normal political debate. Who's next Ukraine, Estonia? Or maybe they can spark a military action regarding Kaliningrad a place they have occupied after WW2?

Dan, London,

Russian forces did NOT bomb Gori.. It is nonsense.

Kate, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

To the best of my knowledge the majority of people in South Ossetia do not want to be part of Georgia. Georgia made the first move to occupy South Ossetia so why does the West jump to condemn Russia? Remember the Falklands.

Gerard, Belfast, Northern Ireland

shame on you russia

mehmet, kars, turkey

Russian authorities undoubtedly showed a lot of pity for Ossetians (as they did for Chechens) by risking Ossetians' lives when systematically ingniting Georgian gunpower barrel in the big emperial game. Well, as bolshevicks (and apparently checkist Putin) liked to remark - goals justify the means.

Anton, Kiev, Ukraine

The Russian bullying Bear on the march again for territorial conquests. For them might is right , What happened to peaceful coexistence and friendly talks and so forth.