Dateline: BUCHAREST

Now that the Russian-Georgian conflict is nearing its end, it is time to start taking a step back and ponder the true dimensions of the conflict, its causes and long term consequences. But to do that, we should first escape the simplistic approach to the conflict that was prevalent all over Western media.

The view that Russia was the aggressor, the bad guy in this conflict, was the main take of Western news sources. Reports of indiscriminate violence and acts of aggression committed by the Russian troops triggered a similar approach by this blog.

Now it’s time to balance this view. First, we provided you with a number of articles taken from the Russian press, and showing how the conflict was viewed frm Moscow. Next on the list  this article from eXiled, republished from The Nation. The article takes a far more critical view of Saakashvili’s regime then has been the norm in Western media [with regard to the recent conflict], and points to some critical tensions that lie at the hear of the Russo-Georgian conflict:

• Does Georgia fit the paradigm of a small democratic nation, given Misha’s authoritarian tendences?
• How does West choose its side, when confronted with the self-determination / national sovereignty dichotomy?
• How much is America willing to risk in order to secure Georgia?

All this from a leftist American perspective. Regardless of whether you agree with the argument, the article is worth reading.

With analysis and commentary abounding throughout all major media sources in the West, it is easy to lose track of the Russian perspective of the conflict. Below are several recent articles that appeared in major Russian media sources, showing how the war in Georgia is seen from Moscow.

Russians see United States behind Military Actions

[US Open Source Center, August 12]

Following US official statements critical of Russia’s disproportionate actions in Georgia and the US airlift of Georgian troops and equipment home from Iraq, Russian officials rebuked the United States for fanning the flames of conflict in the Caucasus. Some Russian officials also suggested that the US Administration was using Georgia for domestic electoral purposes. Media observers went further than official statements, alleging that Georgia was a pawn in a larger US plan to undermine Russia.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin expressed surprise at the “scale of cynicism” on the part of the United States, which in criticizing Russia and transporting Georgian troops from Iraq to Georgia was “passing off white as black and black as white.” He accused US diplomats of maintaining a “Cold War mentality” and viewing Saakashvili as they had Nicaragua’s Somoza: “An SOB, but our SOB” (Channel One, 11 August).

Other officials placed the blame on the United States for both inciting the conflict and impeding its end.

Deputy Chief of the General Staff Anatoliy Nogovitsyn opined: “Everything speaks to the lack of desire of official Tbilisi and Washington to settle the conflict. Otherwise why did US military planes transport 800 (as published) Georgian servicemen with military hardware from Iraq to Georgia?” (Izvestiya, 12 August). Continue Reading »

[Provided data is operational and may be subject to verification. Information comes from the Government of Georgia.]

Timeline by 13th of August 22:00

21:20 Russian troops begane pooling back towards north from the Tbilisi – Poti highway in Gori district. They still stay in town Gori
21:10 First cargo plane organized by American Military landed in Tbilisi International Airport.
21:00 Reports of eyewitness continue to come to police stations about atrocities and crimes committed by South Ossetian separatist forces.
20:12 Population of villages Breti and Aradeti, Kareli district is leaving their villages and moving towards Tbilisi. Ossetian separatists are robbing these villages.Reported by: Naili Gachechiladze
18:00 Russian soldiers have robbed drivers of the Turkish travel company, taking their buses.

Continue Reading »

Earlier reports of Georgian police being allowed back into Gori are now being denied by our sources on the Ground. According to an eyewitness, police forces were told to leave the city, and Russian troops resumed control of Gori. Apparently, the same situation is happening in Poti.

These confusing reports paint a strange picture of the situation in Georgia. This may be due to flaws in the Russian chain of command, or to deliberate attempts to create confusion and generate a sense of volatility on the ground. Another possible reason for these contradictory reports  could be the operation, in parallel, of Russian regulars and so-called ‘volunteers’, or irregular militias.

The same developments are now being reported by Civil.ge

My contact has safely returned from Gori after traveling there with the diplomatic envoy to investigate claims of looting and violence against civilians on the part of the Russian troops. He and other journalists were denied entry into the city by the Russians, however, the diplomats were let in for an hour or two. Here is his direct account. I apologize for the delay but I had a problem with the internet connection.

“9:15am. August 13.
Just came back from near-Gori. Russian troops are NOT now on their way to Tbilisi. I watched the military trucks do a u-turn on the highway and drive past us we were speading to Gori.

I saw droves of refugees coming toward Tbilisi on their feet. I received several firsthand refugee accounts of their houses being looted and set on fire. We came up to Gori in a Diplomatic car. Diplomats went in, but reporters weren’t allowed. Russians blocked us entry. I was there for a little less than 2 hours.

It is surreal to see blockposts of a foreign army on the highway I used to drive freely.

Had a bizzare episode with a Russian soldier. He jumped from a tank, came up to me, all smiles, asked me for cigarette and food. Totally caught me off guard. Gave him cig. and water.”

Other media sources have reported people fleeing from Gori, some of them on foot, along the main highway that was also the scene earlier of the Russian forces advancing towards Tbilisi. Without independent observers and/or journalists able to move into Gori it’s impossible to either completely confirm or deny accounts but I have heard from multiple sources of property being looted and of people hiding or fleeing from the Russian troops that entered Gori in clear violation of the “ceasefire.”

As President Saakashvili was denouncing Russia’s violation of the less than 24 hours old “ceasefire” and Russian troops and military hardware were heading towards Tbilisi along the main highway the Russian commander issued this statement:

“If he doesn’t understand the situation, we’ll have to go further,” said the commander, speaking on condition of anonymity. “He doesn’t seem to understand that the Russian Army is much stronger than the Georgian Army. His tanks remain in their places. His air force is dead. His navy is also. His army is demoralized.” (source NY Times)

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.

After Bush’s strong statement last night, NATO has come out today strong in support of Georgia. The first sign was the cancellation of the NATO-Russia Council meeting, which was initially scheduled at Russia’s request. NATO offered as an excuse the fact that more preparations are needed. However, the US Ambassador to NATO took a clearer line, justifying the cancellation by saying that “there cannot be business as usual with Russia” when Moscow is involved in an open conflict with a NATO-partner state.

Today, Jaap de Hoop Schaeffer came out with a statement saying that NATO is still supporting Georgia’s membership perspective, re-confirming NATO’s statement from the Bucharest Summit. He also declared that putting an end to Russia’s offensive is “important, but not sufficient.”

Medvedev has just come out with a statement announcing an end to the military operation “aiming to constrain Georgia to observe peace.” “The aggressor has been punished”, he said.

According to reports on the ground, Tbilisi has been the scene of some panicking last night, but the residents escaped a major offensive from the Russians.

I don’t have any reliable information on this, but Russia’s decision seems to have been a close call, with Russian troops within easy reach of Tbilisi. I guess that Russia figured the political cost of getting rid of Saakashvili had become too high, having probably received credible warnings from the US and European countries.