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Russians ease grip on Georgia
Ed Harris, Evening Standard18 Aug 2008
Russia was under mounting pressure from the West today to honour its promise to start pulling its troops out of Georgia.
French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who brokered the ceasefire between Russia and Georgia, said there would be "serious consequences" if Moscow did not comply.
Russia's president Dmitri Medvedev vowed to start withdrawing forces from positions in the republic - but then raised tensions by suggesting they could stay in South Ossetia, the breakaway region at the heart of the conflict.
Russian tanks and troops continue to control a wide swathe of Georgia, including the main highway running through the country, the strategic central city of Gori, the western city of Senaki and its air base. But in Gori there were sign that Russia was gradually loosening its grip.
Troops would leave "sooner or later", a Russian politician said. Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of a Russian parliament foreign affairs committee, said: "But how much time it will take depends, definitely, on how Georgians will continue to behave."
Senior American officials said Washington would rethink its relationship with Moscow after its military drive deep into Georgia and called for a swift Russian withdrawal.
"I think there needs to be a strong, unified response to Russia to send the message that this kind of behaviour, characteristic of the Soviet period, has no place in the 21st century," defence secretary Robert Gates said. But neither Mr Gates nor Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would be specific about what punitive action the US or the international community might take.
Georgia's leader has promised not to abandon its claim to territory now firmly in the hands of Russia and its separatist allies, although he has few means of asserting control as the conflict entered its 10th day.
Mikhail Saakashvili's pledge, supported by Western insistence that Georgia must not be broken apart, promises further tensions over South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Today South Ossetia's self-styled president faced fresh trouble as he fired the government of the breakaway republic and declared a month-long emergency.
Reports said that Eduard Kokoity had sharply criticised his cabinet for their performance over humanitarian assistance after the attack on the capital Tskhinvali by Georgian forces on 8 August. Residents are crowding around aid vehicles and grasping at bread. Virtually all shops are closed.
Ms Rice, who was flying to Europe today to talk to Nato allies about what message the West should send to Russia, said Russia could not use " disproportionate force" against its neighbour and still be welcomed by international institutions.
"It's not going to happen that way," she said. "Russia will pay a price."
