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South Ossetia - Daily Chronology

Monday 11 August 2008

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said that the Russian military has blocked a central highway linking east and west Georgia. Russia troops entered the main part of Georgia's territory earlier on Monday, as Russia continued its peace enforcement operation to prevent further Georgian incursions into breakaway South Ossetia. Saakashvili said in press briefing at the Georgian Security Council: "This evening they [Russian troops] managed to reach the central highway and cut off eastern Georgia from the country's west."

Russian Colonel General Anatoly Nogovitsyn, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, said that Russia would abide by the terms of the peacekeeping agreement for South Ossetia worked out between Georgia and Russia in 1992. "We are not moving beyond the boundaries," Nogovitsyn said. "This is a matter of principle. The 1992 agreement, which was signed by the Georgian side too, clearly defines the boundaries of responsibility of the Russian contingent, and the peacekeepers do not have the task of invading Georgian territory."

President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev told President of Finland Tarja Halonen, as the head of the state holding the OSCE presidency, that he stood for the OSCE mission's presence in South Ossetia. Finland's President agreed that OSCE's presence was needed in the zone, and urged the parties to end hostilities. The United States joined other members of the Group of Seven industrial powers in endorsing mediation in the Russia-Georgia conflict by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and his Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb.

Speaking to reporters in Tbilisi, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner spelled out the framework of a peace plan backed by the European Union. "Cease-fire, first. Access to the victims, second. Third, withdrawal of the troops, controlled withdrawal of the troops. Fourth, coming back to the table, negotiation, peace talks, political solution."

Russian planes continued bombing raids on Georgia Monday, ignoring international appeals for the country to observe Georgia's offer for a cease-fire. Russian leaders say Georgia had yet to fully honor the cease-fire, claiming that Georgian forces have continued to attack the breakaway province of South Ossetia's capital, Tskinvali.

Georgian officials said Russian warplanes bombed a location near Tblisi International Airport, and that Russia had launched what it called a massive aerial bombardment of Gori, a Georgian city not far from South Ossetia. Russian troops then occupied Gori, close to the breakaway region of South Ossetia, according to Georgia's National Security Council secretary Alexander Lomaia. Both Russian and Georgian officials deny that Russia had taken over the strategic city of Gori. A reporter for the Reuters news agency, who was in Gori Monday, said he saw no trace of Russian troops. But thousands of civilians have fled, fearing Russia is ready to overrun the city. "Georgian armed forces received an order to leave Gori and to fortify positions near Mtskheta to defend the capital," said Lomaia. "This is a total onslaught." Mtskheta is 24 kilometres (15 miles) from Tbilisi.

On August 11, 2008, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused Washington of undermining Russia's attempts to restore peace in the South Ossetian conflict zone by flying 800 Georgian soldiers from Iraq to Georgia. In a stinging attack on the US, Putin told government ministers: "It's a pity that some of our partners, instead of helping, are trying to get in the way". He said the US was using "its military transport aircraft to relocate Georgia's military contingent from Iraq virtually into the conflict zone".

U.S. military aircraft have flown 800 Georgian troops and a number of armored vehicles back home from Iraq amid an armed conflict in breakaway South Ossetia. NBC reported on Monday that U.S. military transport planes had started to bring all the Georgian troops deployed in Iraq back home. "U.S. aircraft have made eight flights to bring Georgian troops home from Iraq," Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn said. Nogovitsyn pledged to take adequate measures. "We are ready to increase our forces in view of the relocation of Georgian troops." He said following Russia's deployment of 58th Army units to supplement its peacekeepers in South Ossetia, Georgian and Russian troop numbers in the conflict zone were around the same.

In a Kremlin meeting with Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov on Monday, Medvedev said: "A major part of the operation to force the Georgian side and the Georgian authorities to peace in South Ossetia has been completed". The President went on to say: "Tskhinvali is under the control of a strengthened Russian peacekeeping contingent." According to Georgian officials, Moscow has deployed an additional 10,000 troops to South Ossetia -- and there are strong indications that the Kremlin's aims are much broader than simply keeping that region in Moscow's orbit.

According to reports from Tbilisi, 45 Georgian soldiers and 40 civilians were killed in two days of violence in South Ossetia. Those figures contrast wildly with those released by South Ossetia and Russia, who say an estimated 2,000 people have lost their lives.

Sunday 10 August 2008

President Dmitry Medvedev described Georgia's actions in the conflict zone as genocide. He has ordered Russian prosecutors to collect evidence of the crimes committed there. "Georgia has exposed South Ossetia to a very crude and cynical aggression. People have died. Russian citizens have died, including local residents and peacekeepers. The actions of the Georgian side cannot be described as anything else but genocide. The information we have received suggests that horrible crimes were committed there. People were killed, burnt, run down by tanks, had their throats were cut," Medvedev said. The President went on to say that "the operation to restore peace will continue and those guilty will be punished".

Another UN Security Council session on the situation in South Ossetia has wrapped up in New York. Russia says it's not refusing to start talks with Georgia but believes negotiations can only be possible when Georgia pulls out its troops from South Ossetia and commits itself to a non-use of force agreement.

Russia's ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said "What legal terms can be used to describe what has been done by the Georgian leadership? Can we use ethnic cleansing for example? When about one third of the population of South Ossetia left it during several days and went north risking their lives - is it ethnic cleansing or not? Now, when 2,000 is killed out of the total population of 100,000 - is it genocide or not? How many civilians must die before we describe it as genocide?"

"Russian ground troops' armed invasion has already transformed into a full-scale occupation of parts of Georgian territory. The process of extermination of Georgian population and annihilation of Georgia's statehood is in full swing," said Irakly Alasania, Georgian ambassador to UN.

Another UN Security Council session on the situation in South Ossetia wrapped up in New York. Russia says it's not refusing to start talks with Georgia but believes negotiations can only be possible when Georgia pulls out its troops from South Ossetia and commits itself to a non-use of force agreement.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad warned Russia that the continuing assault on Georgia will complicate relations between Washington and Moscow. "I urge the Russian Federation to carefully consider the implications of this aggression against the sovereign and democratic state of Georgia ... Russia's relations with the United States and others in the international community will be affected by its continued assault on Georgia and its refusal to contribute to a peaceful solution of this crisis. ... We must condemn Russia's military assault on the sovereign state of Georgia, the violation of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, including the targeting of civilians and the campaign of terror against the Georgian population... Similarly, we need to condemn the destruction of Georgian infrastructure."

On August 10, 2008, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said "What we are asking is for all parties, including the Russians, to return to what we call the status quo ante of August 6th. This is before the most recent hostilities escalated. We are very concerned about the disproportionate response that we believe Russia has engaged in. ... there are reports that the Georgians have started to pull back from South Ossetia. This, if true, could help us lead to a peaceful solution. That is what President Bush had asked of the Georgians and the Russians as they work towards a cease-fire. ... President Bush does think that the Russian response has been disproportionate.... We have made it clear to the Russians that if the disproportionate and dangerous escalation on the Russian side continues, that this will have a significant long-term impact on U.S.-Russian relations."

On 09 August 2008 Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin had set one condition for setting talks, namely the withdrawal of Georgian forces from Tskhinvali. On August 10, 2008 he set a second condition negotiations, that Georgia should now sign a pledge that it will not again use force. This suggested to some observers that the Russians were holding out as long as they could before they actually agree to sit down and negotiate.

Georgia said it had ordered its troops in the breakaway region of South Ossetia to cease fire, after withdrawing its troops from South Ossetia's capital. There was no direct response from Russia to Georgia's offer to negotiate an end to three days of fierce fighting in the region. Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said Georgia was pulling its troops out of South Ossetia after Georgian casualties rose "into the hundreds".

On 10 August 2008 it was reported that Russia had expanded its bombing campaign to the Georgian capital. Russian jets targeted an aircraft-making plant near the airport on the outskirts of Tbilisi. South Ossetia's government said on its Web site that "thousands of civilians" remain buried beneath rubble in Tskhinvali, including more than 150 in the ruins of the city's hospital.

Russian commanders sent tanks from the separatist region of South Ossetia into Georgian territory, before being turned back by Georgian forces on Sunday. The Russian tanks appeared to be trying to reach Gori, Stalin's home town, but did not fire on the city. The Russians would be crossing a very dangerous red line if they advanced beyond the border between South Ossetia and into the rest of Georgia.

The Georgian government claimed that 6,000 Russian troops had deployed into South Ossetia, and 4,000 more had deployed to Abkhazia. The US military began flying 2,000 Georgian troops home from Iraq after Georgia recalled them.

Moscow remained unconvinced about Ukrainian claims of neutrality. Referring to the shooting down of a Russian Tu-22 bomber over Georgia, the Defence Ministry says the Georgian military would have needed an S-200 anti-aircraft system to carry out the attack. According to Russia, the Georgian army did not possess such equipment before the conflict. Only Russia and Ukraine are armed with S-200 anti-aircraft systems, which is leading Russian defence officials to suspect that Kiev may have sold the equipment to Georgia.

The president of South Ossetia claimed mercenaries took part in Georgia's offensive against the breakaway republic. Eduard Kokoity said Ukrainians, people from the Baltics as well as nationals from other countries were involved. Kokoity says that: "After the fighting in the city we found several bodies of citizens of the Baltic states and Ukraine. Later on I was informed that the bodies of several black men were found at the scene of a battle near school number 12. Kokoity said. He also said some corpses had the narrow eyes typical of people from Asia.

The Russian envoy in South Ossetia, Dmitry Medoyev, confirmed the South Ossetian President's claim that foreign mercenaries took part in the onslaught. "In yesterday's attack, the advancing tanks were supposedly crewed by Ukrainians. Two unidentified bodies found today are said to have black skin. Possibly they are Americans but we can't say for sure yet. We will be able to publish the official conclusions after carrying out special tests," Medoyev said.

By 10 August 2008 the death toll in the unrecognised republic had reached at least 2000, according to Russia's Ambassador to Georgia Vyacheslav Kovalenko. The Chief of Russian ground forces Igor Konashenkov claims Georgia's military action in Tskhinvali has resulted in the destruction of all hospitals, and many children have been killed. More than ten border villages have reportedly, also been burnt to the ground. Russian military officials said the 76th Airborne Brigade of the Russian Army had arrived in the conflict region. One section of the brigade was said to have flown to the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali. Other troops were to move to the region by ground transport.

Saturday 09 August 2008

Russian warplanes carried out new airstrikes against Georgian military targets Saturday 09 August 2008, as fighting between the two sides reportedly spread to Abkhazia, another disputed region. South Ossetia's capital Tskinvali was in ruins as the region entered its second day of fighting between separatists and Georgian forces. At the same time, officials reported Russian warplanes hit targets in the breakaway region of Abkhazia. The countries disagree on whether Georgia has gained control of South Ossetia. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said there was little doubt that Georgia had taken over. Russia's peacekeeping command said on Saturday the country's troops have driven Georgian forces from the capital of the separatist republic of South Ossetia. "Tskhinvali has been fully liberated," a spokesman said. Paratroopers from Russia's Ivanovo, Moscow and Pskov airborne divisions have been sent to Tskhinvali, and international news agencies reported Russian air strikes on the Georgian town of Gori, near South Ossetia, the Black Sea port of Poti, and on two military bases.

On 09 August 2008 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that 1,500 people have been killed in South Ossetia since the start of Georgia's attack on the breakaway republic. Foreign Minister Lavrov also accused Georgia of a campaign of ethnic cleansing against South Ossetians. "Over the past one and a half days, more than 30,000 people have crossed the border," Chief of Government Staff Sergei Sobyanin told President Dmitry Medvedev at a meeting to discuss humanitarian aid to the province. This suggests that nearly half of the 75,000 residents of South Ossetia had left the territory.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said that "Russian propaganda channels are saying that 1,500 people have died in South Ossetia -- this is total nonsense. This is being done deliberately, to prove that Georgia's armed forces killed many, which is a total lie. In fact, apart from the militants, our forces have killed no one. During the attack against us in Tskhinvali, the fire opened in response brought virtually no casualties among civilians. I say this with full responsibility."

Georgia said it had shot down a total of 10 Russian combat aircraft, while Russia says it had lost two planes. Russian Deputy Air Force Commander Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn stated at a news conference on 09 August 2008 that Russian peacekeepers had lost contact with an Su-25 Frogfoot close-support aircraft and a Tu-22 Blinder bomber, and that the fate of the pilots was unknown.

On August 9, 2008, US President George Bush said "The attacks are occurring in regions of Georgia far from the zone of conflict in South Ossetia. They mark a dangerous escalation in the crisis. The violence is endangering regional peace. ... Georgia is a sovereign nation and its territorial integrity must be respected. We have urged an immediate halt to the violence and a stand-down by all troops. We call for an end to the Russian bombings, and a return by the parties to the status quo of August the 6th."

August 09, 2008 a "Statement from Senator Barack Obama on Russia's escalation of violence against Georgia" stated that "Over the last two days, Russia has escalated the crisis in Georgia through it's clear and continued violation of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. On Friday, August 8, Russian military forces invaded Georgia. I condemn Russia's aggressive actions and reiterate my call for an immediate ceasefire. Russia must stop its bombing campaign, cease flights of Russian aircraft in Georgian airspace, and withdraw its ground forces from Georgia. Both sides should allow humanitarian assistance to reach civilians in need. Russia also must end its cyber war against Georgian government websites. Georgia's territorial integrity must be respected.

"As I have said for many months, aggressive diplomatic action must be taken to reach a political resolution to this crisis, and to assure that Georgia's sovereignty is protected. Diplomats at the highest levels from the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations must become directly involved in mediating this military conflict and beginning a process to resolve the political disputes over the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. A genuinely neutral mediator - not the Russian government - must begin a process of negotiations immediately.

"The situation in Georgia also requires the deployment of genuine international peacekeeping forces in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The current escalation of military conflict resulted in part from the lack of a neutral and effective peacekeeping force operating under an appropriate UN mandate. Russia cannot play a constructive role as peacekeeper. Instead, Russian actions in both South Ossetia and Abkhazia appear to be intended to preserve an unstable status quo."

Friday 08 August 2008

Georgia said its soldiers had seized the "greater part" of South Ossetia after heavy fighting erupted overnight in the breakaway region. The "total mobilization" of Georgia's military forces was ordered, and Russian troops have entered South Ossetia, raising fears of a full-blown military conflict. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said a Russian armored column with 150 vehicles had entered South Ossetian territory. He also said Georgian forces earlier shot down two Russian warplanes.

Washington refused to support a Russian-backed resolution in the United Nations Security Council calling for an end to the fighting because of its opposition to a clause calling on all sides to "renounce the use of force", persuaded Russians that Washington was backing Georgia's "right" to take military action.

Thursday 07 August 2008

Armed conflict began between Georgian and separatist forces in South Ossetia on the night of August 7/8, 2008. At that time, media reports indicated that explosive devices were dropped on the Georgian military bases of Vaziani and Marneuli.

On Thursday 07 August 2008 Georgian military forces fought their way into the capital of the breakaway region of South Ossetia. Russian tanks entered the breakaway region as Georgian forces fought for control of the regional capital Tskhinvali. Georgian officials demanded Russia stop air attacks on Georgian cities - which Russia denies carrying out. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said Georgian forces have shot down two Russian aircraft. Russian President Dmitri Medvedev pledged to defend Russian citizens in South Ossetia, an area where many residents hold Russian passports. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin condemned the Georgian advance and vowed to retaliate. The White House, NATO, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have called for an immediate end to the violence.

President Bush was informed immediately when the United States received news of the first two SS-21 Russian missile launchers into Georgian territory. This was at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where he immediately met with President Putin. They had a discussion.

Wednesday 06 August 2008

On 06 August 2008 the leader of South Ossetia said that Georgia was planning a full-scale invasion of the region before the start of September. South Ossetia said earlier that day that Georgian troops had opened fire on two villages in the separatist province, while Russian peacekeepers said eight Georgian warplanes had flown into the region during the morning. Georgia denied both allegations, and said the situation on the ground was calm. Georgian Interior Ministry reported the next day that South Ossetia had continued to shell five Georgian villages overnight wounding at least two Georgian police officers and damaging houses and military infrastructure.