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Russia abandons truce and goes back into Georgia
Ed Harris, Evening Standard15.08.08
Explosions were heard in the strategic Georgian city of Gori today as the Russian pull-out from the area appeared to collapse.
In Moscow, Russia's foreign minister said the world "can forget about any talk about Georgia's territorial integrity".
The declaration from Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov came while the president Dmitri Medvedev was in the Kremlin meeting the leaders of Georgia's two breakaway provinces - a clear sign that Moscow could absorb the regions.
The refusal to withdrawand the meeting in Moscow seemed to torpedo an EU-sponsored ceasefire which was designed to end seven days of fighting.
"One can forget about any talk about Georgia's territorial integrity because, I believe, it is impossible to persuade South Ossetia and Abkhazia to agree with the logic that they can be forced back into the Georgian state," Mr Lavrov said.
Washington pledged to stand by Georgia and insisted that Russia allowed in aid to help the estimated 100,000 people left homeless by the fighting. "We expect Russia to honour its commitment to let in all forms of humanitarian assistance," said President George Bush.
As the first US aid flights arrived in the capital Tbilisi, Mr Bush backed up his warning by sending aircraft and naval ships to the Black Sea, which is currently controlled by Russian warships, raising fears of direct confrontation between US and Russian forces.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who flies to Tbilisi today, said: "This is not 1968 and the invasion of Czechoslovakia where Russia can threaten a neighbour, occupy a capital, overthrow a government and get away with it. Things have changed."
Jonathan Eyal, director of studies at defence think-tank the Royal United Services Institute, said the US was sending a "none too subtle" message to Moscow that it would defend Georgia's borders. The decision would be viewed "extremely badly" in Russia, he added.
At least five explosions were heard near Gori, just outside South Ossetia, which controls the key road between eastern and western Georgia, and has been occupied by Russian troops since yesterday. They are supported by irregular armed volunteers from Chechnya, who angered Georgians when they said: "We're here on holiday."
The blasts happened after a tense confrontation between Russian and Georgian troops at a checkpoint on the edge of the city. Georgia had said earlier the Russians were leaving Gori, but later alleged they were bringing in extra troops. Georgian officials who had gone into the city for the possible handover left unexpectedly around midday when Russian tanks sped toward the area and Georgian forces quickly retreated.
The Georgian foreign ministry claimed that Russian troops had also rolled back into the vital Black Sea oil port city of Poti.
Thousands of Russian troops remain in control of South Ossetia after driving out the Georgian forces which tried last Friday to regain control of their former territory.
An American camera crew today saw Russian soldiers and vehicles parked inside the Georgian government's heavily gated building in the western town of Zugdidi.
Some of the soldiers wore blue peacekeeping helmets, others wore green camouflage helmets - all were heavily armed. The scene underlined how closely the soldiers Russia calls peacekeepers are allied with its forces.
Ms Rice was today was holding talks with French president Nicolas Sarkozy today before heading to Tbilisi. The conflict has shifted from artillery, tank and gun battles at the weekend to increasingly sharp diplomatic and political exchanges between Washington, Moscow and Tbilisi.
Ms Rice said Russian servicemen were failing to prevent looting by irregular militias in Gori.
Moscow denied violating the ceasefire and rejected claims that its troops and armour had advanced on Tbilisi or looted Gori.
Her claims were backed by Human Rights Watch, a US organisation, which said its staff in Georgia had witnessed looting of ethnic Georgian villages in South Ossetia, many of whose residents hold Russian passports. Moscow announced an emergency aid package for South Ossetia, with finance minister Alexei Kudrin pledging 10 billion roubles (£207 million) to rebuild the shattered region.
The Russian general-prosecutor's office said today it has formally opened a genocide inquiry into Georgian treatment of South Ossetians. Georgia has already filed a suit against Russia in the International Court of Justice, alleging murder, rape and mass expulsions in South Ossetia and and Abkhazia.
The fighting in the Caucasus, an important transit route for Caspian oil, has rattled the US, Nato and the European Union.
Russia says 1,600 civilians died when Georgia attacked South Ossetia, although the figure has not been independently verified. Moscow's general staff says it lost 74 soldiers in the fighting, with 171 wounded and 19 missing.
Tbilisi puts deaths on its side at more than 175, with hundreds injured. That figure does not include casualties sustained in South Ossetia.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband has accused Moscow of "blatant aggression" against Georgia and warned it risked being frozen out of the G8 group of leading industrialised nations. A meeting of EU foreign leaders in Brussels yesterday ended in an expression of "grave concern" and agreement to do more on the ground - including the possible despatch of unarmed peace monitors.
Mr Miliband, who broke off from a holiday on Minorca, said: "It is absolutely essential that the message goes out loud and clear that Russian incursions into Georgia from South Ossetia or from Abkhazia are contrary to international law and contrary to the agreement that was brokered last night."
Reader views (17)
russia was only protecting the 90% russain population in south ossetia that georgia was attacking with american weapons that america supllyed. also russia has no say what outher factions do such as the cossaks,chechnians,and south ossetains.ASK YOUR SELF WHY ARE THESE FACTIONS SO ANGRY AT GEORGIA. if georgia is such an honest country why did it exacute 10 russian peace keepers and bomb a hospital with multi roket sytems and running over fleeing ossetians from the conflict zone. RUSSIA'S TROOPS ARE DEFENDING RUSSIANS.
- Dave, london
The Russian should not be so brutal against the Georgians because of the war, I know very well that in war it is common but it should not exceed the limit. But I also would like to comment that what president Bush will do in this regard...he is helpless because he has done the same against the innocent people of Iraq. so there is no difference between Putin and Bush, both are the two aspect of a same coin...
- Md Imran, Kolkata
Russian gov is determined to destroy Georgian people, Georgian history and Georgian culture. However, this will never happen. Russian gov and separatists that they are backing will be brought to justice. These uneducated animals destroying villages and robbing elderly people left in Georgia, elderly that could not flee are low low low human beings.
Russian gov will be brought to justice for violent crimes they are committing against humanity.
- Tami G., New York
I guess Prez Bush was mistaken when he said he looked into Putin's eyes and saw his soul. He really saw snake eyes.
- Syd, Los Angeles USA
The Russians are not done yet. The red bear has awaken and it drinks oil and feeds on small former states. It will get more bold and hostile if not challenged. We the west and free world need stick together or fall one buy one. Russia is a lot more of a threat do to our looking weak.
- Jason Gombos, middletown ct usa
Georgia sends troops into breakaway South Ossetia, apparently killing over a thousand people. Russia intervenes to chase out the Georgians and cross over into a section of Georgia. Serbia sends troops into Kosovo killing a large number (not sure how many) of Albanians. The US and Britain bomb Serbs in Kosovo and Serbia itself for 80 days where several thousand are killed and the infrastructure of the country is demolished. Serbia retaliates by trying to drive out all Albanians from Kosovo. The US insists Serbia withdraws from its own territory. Kosovo is then recognised as a separate state while in South Ossetia the US and Britain declare they stand by Georgian sovereignty.
- Julian Cheyne, London, UK
Kr "London"
I think you need to read up on your history...US carpet bombing tactics are estimated to have killed 2 million people in South East Asia. America's long history of foreign intervention is littered with failures.
Rogan, Texas
Unsurprisingly for a Texan, you demonstrate the intelligence of a manhole cover. Why don't you stick to electrocuting criminals and waving your guns in the air...US intervention in these matters is neither needed nor wanted. You clearly have no idea what you are talking about. The US really needs to stay well out of this. Go home and leave us in peace.
- Mark, London
5 years and 12 resolutions later... everyone will be dead and the best and brightest will be buried in mass graves...then maybe the rest of the world will do something.
- Mike, Richmond,va
Displaying the license plate JIM 087, the owner of the car will be in big TROUBLE.
The truth sometimes is DEADLY.
- Bluerose, Midwest USA
Imagine if this came out of Bush: "America has learned its lesson. We're sorry we acted like 'cowboys' and had a 'go it alone' policy before. Accordingly, we're going to keep our nose out of Europe's business and let the situation with Georgia be handled by the European Union. Since the EU was formed as an attempt to lesson America's influence and show how powerful a united Europe is, we call upon the European Union to handle this crisis."
How long would it be before everyone started blaming America for abandoning Georgia?
Oops...too late they already are.
- Csc5502, Tustin, CA USA
Nat O Farce-
Your comments are insulting and erroneous. What exactly is your problem with the USA that you feel the need to make ridiculous, vague statements with absolutely no support? To have a world view based on jealousy and envy will not get you anywhere in your debates. Are you aware of how many friendly fire incidents have occurred recently due to British forces? Or other countries? The statement means nothing. Further, your believe that the USA bombs indiscriminately, or as you put it "just use any old building...Grow up!
- Kr, London UK
Ah, I see the US has been found guilty (again - yawn!) in trial by accusation.
In case anyone forgets, there are ethnic Georgians in South Ossetia too. It isn't a land that was taken from its inhabitants by force, just one where a minority, encouraged by the Russians, want links to the Russian North Ossetia.
The Germans did the same thing in Czechoslovakia and surrounding countries prior to the start of WWII.
Russia, for those with short memories, is hardly unbiased in the matter, having been dumped by the Georgians when the USSR fell apart. They fought a rather vicious war at the time and never gave up their claims on all of Georgia.
- Rogan, DFW TX
The Russian go back to Georgia! Does any one remember Hungary in October 1956!?
- Arthur Lincoln, London
Well done George Bush
At least here's a man who puts his military where his mouth is unlike a lot of other world leaders.
- Mike Kimmins, Bexley, Kent
Mark, whilst the American soldiers do indeed restrict their aggression to combatants unfortunately this continuously results in friendly fire incidents.
However, in terms of carpet bombing the Amercians just use any old building as a target whether it be hospitals, schools or factories, it doesn't matter to them, as long as there's a steaming pile of rubble at the end then it's considered a result.
- Nat O'Farce, London
According to a report in the NY Times, Sarkozy was in such a hurry to make a peace deal that he left a loophole a mile wide for the Russians to justify further action inside Georgia itself. When he tried to adjust it, he was refused by Russia after they kept him waiting 2 hours.
So once again the Europeans need the US to try to pull a humanitarian disaster out of the fire and to try to stop Putin's aggressive attempts to begin getting back Russia's lost Empire.
Of course, soon Europe will start blaming Bush for creating the problems with Russia and bringing back the Cold War. The BBC will be no doubt be their foremost advocates, closely followed by CNN.
- Stephen Rothbart, Prague, Czech Republic
Well... Now the World will see again how the Russian animals behave in the areas they occupy. A living lesson how the animals behaved in eastern Europe at the close of World War II.
Maybe you lefties will now shut-up about US troops who tend to behave a little better and restrict their aggression to combatants.
- Mark, Tonbridge UK
