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Archive for August 13th, 2008

Frozen Conflicts, Georgian Politics, International, South Caucasus

My friend’s plea for help as his host father is hiding from rampaging Russian troops in Gori!

My friend sent out this plea for help not long ago after discovering his Georgian host father was still in Gori and was hiding out in his basement as Russian troops were heard outside looting and perhaps worse. I have not heard from my contact in the delegation of international high-level diplomats to Gori to investigate but will post once I do so stay tuned. Let’s all hope these reports turn out to be exaggerated and not true and that the old and vulnerable still left in Gori are safe and that people’s property is left alone and not looted as some reports suggest.
“Today, i received word that there was looting in the city of gori. I heard two men were shot dead and there car was stolen on the highway towards gori. I called my host dad, Tariel Kasradze to see how he was doing. He never left the town of gori, he stayed to help at the hospital since his son works there. I called him today at 4:07 pm to see if he was ok. He said he is at home, russians are here. they are next to the house, he speaks little english and said to me, house burglars, help me help me.

I did not know what to do, i called a friend I know who i thought could help, she called him back, he is in the basement of his house now. 74 rustaveli street, with three old people. They are all alone and who knows what will happen to them.

My friends are trying to get thru to the police or the media but all the lines are busy now.”

Our thoughts are with all of you in Gori!

Frozen Conflicts, Russia, South Caucasus

Update on the developing situation in Gori

Amid the reports of executions and looting and fresh violence commited by the Russian troops in Gori I have confirmed reports that a group of “high profile diplomats” is traveling to Gori with journalists in an armoured vehicle to try and put an end to tragedies being commited. A source inside Georgia is traveling in this convoy and we should be able to bring absolutely confirmed reports of the situation in Gori in a few hours.

“5:16pm. August 13. AP report of Russian troops moving closer was confirmed. (note - later confirmed to have turned around) Harrowing stories of executions in Gori. A group of high-profile international diplomats will be going there in 30min to stop the violence. I and several other reporters will go in their armored truck.”

According to the NY Times the Russian commander of the tank battalion that has occupied Gori said that the Russians were there to look for Georgian fighters who were violating the ceasefire. So let me get this straight…Russian forces are violating the ceasefire by occupying Georgian territory far outside the conflict zone of South Ossetia in order to “make sure Georgia is not violating the ceasefire?!” Makes perfect sense really.

On a brighter note my source traveling with the convoy to Gori reports that all is still quiet in Tbilisi as of this afternoon with busses running and stores open for business. It’s incredible how different the situation can be only an hour away in Gori!

Frozen Conflicts, Georgian Politics, International, Russia, South Caucasus

Reports of point blank executions coming in…

Amid reports that a Russian convoy of troops and military hardware was heading towards Tbilisi and other reports of fresh fighting in and around Gori in clear violation of the ceasefire terms comes some very disturbing reports from a journalist source inside Georgia about point blank executions and looting. Other media sources also have unconfirmed reports of looting and ethnic cleansing. I also have a contact who is in direct communication with a Georgian citizen still in Gori who is hearing gunfire and saw Russian troops moving from house to house looting and has now moved into his basement to hide. The international media needs to pick up on this! Who’s gonna stop the Russians now?!

“1:10pm, August 13

Russian troops conducted point-blank executions of several families in villages near Gori and upper Abkhazia. Took their valuables.

Nadya: airport was attacked the day yesterday, but it survived destruction. A nearby appartment buidling hit. Some demage, but the building didn’t collapse, no casualties.”

Frozen Conflicts

Fresh fighting in Gori, Russian troops head for Tbilisi

In spite of news of President Medvedev signing on to a peace agreement brokered by Sarkozy, fresh fighting has erupted in Gori. Several journalists, quoted by AFP, said Russian troops and armored vehicles were present in Gori earlier today, and exchanged fire with Georgian troops.

More worrisome yet, a AFP photographer has seen a Russian convoy composed of armored vehicles, making its way from Gori to Tbilisi. According to the cited source, the convoy was at around 10 km SE of Gori, on the highway heading for Tbilisi.

Finally, here is another plea for help from Georgia, illustrating the current situation in Gori

I just spoke to my host dad in gori, russian troops are outside his house, breaking into homes. He is scared, the last thing he told me was help me help me. I dont know what to do. He lives in central gori and stayed to help the hospital and never left. Some one is trying to call him again now, but dont know what to do. he llives on 74 rustavli street in gori, behind school number 3.

Watch here a video of Russian troops heading toward Tbilisi.

1746 Update: The deputy Minister of Interior of Georgia denies Russian troops are heading for Tbilisi. According to Russian sources, troops were deployed in Gori to evacuate a Georgian military depot.

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And… we’re back!

Due to technical issues related to our host server, Dateline: Bucharest was down since yesterday night at approximately 2100 CET. We apologize for the inconvenience, thank you for your patience, and hope that this situation will repeat

We will be back with fresh reports and analyses on developments in Georgia within the next few hours. Stay tuned.