A Race to the Bottom in Georgia
Armed conflict between Russia and Georgia seemed ever more likely today after the Moscow moved more troops to Georgia’s separatist region of Abkhazia.
Georgia, who lost out on its bid for solidifying NATO membership earlier this month in Bucharest, has been locked in a bitter dispute with Russia over the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia for years. This conflict, however, has reached a breaking point in recent months as accusations have been launched by both sides over intimidating military tactics.
Georgia Poised for Attack?
Russian officials cite evidence that Georgia is poised to attack Abkhazia in an effort to restore rule in a region where the government in Tbilisi has long struggled to control.
The BBC reports…
A statement from the Russian foreign ministry said that “a bridgehead is being prepared for the start of military operations against Abkhazia”.
While Georgia denies any plans for attack, the Russian defense ministry claims on its website evidence of a build up of police and military forces in the Kodori region just on the Georgia-Abkhazia border.
The Ministry also posted these comments…
“Any attempt by Georgia to use force to resolve the conflicts, to adopt forceful measures against Russian peacekeepers or Russian citizens located on the territory of Abkhazia or South Ossetia, will meet with a suitable and tough response.”
Many in international circles have argued that Georgia’s failure to join NATO’s ‘membership action plan’ (MAP) and the unilateral declaration of independence in Kosovo backed by the West would lead to a dislodging of frozen conflicts in the volatile Caucasus region, namely in Abkhazia.
More on Abkhazia…
Currently, Russia has nearly 2,000 peacekeeping forces stationed in Abkhazia. It’s mandate was recently reaffirmed by the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Many Western countries, including the United States, continue to view Russia’s presence as a threat to Georgia’s security and support Tbilisi’s efforts to see the Russian forces withdrawn.
A Black Sea enclave and former resort for Soviet elite, the breakaway region of Abkhazia has its own capital, Sukhumi, and a functioning government. Propped up by the Kremlin, Abkhazia is not officially recognized by the international community as an independent state. Russia has vowed to defend its Abkhaz allies should they be attacked by Georgia in an effort to reclaim the breakaway territory.
In the early 1990s, Georgia fought a bloody war over Abkhazia and fellow breakaway region South Ossetia. Thousands died.
Georgia’s president Mikhail Saakashvilli has used the return of Abkhazia and South Ossetia key points in his political platform. So far, Saakashvilli’s efforts have fallen on deaf ears, as both Abkhazia and South Ossetia look to Russia for direction on any autonomy deal that would be cut with the Georgian government.
Russia has legitimized its presence in the region not simply through maintaining a military presence, but also through claims of citizenship. The Kremlin doled out Russian citizenship and passports to citizens in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia in an effort to further legitimize its interests in the region. Such actions also strengthen calls for Abkhazia, in particular, to join Russia.
In an effort seen by Tbilisi as further Russian encroachment, Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian government to establish legal relationships with both Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In the meanwhile, cross-border clashes have proliferated in recent months, essentially thawing the frozen conflict.
Russians allegedly shoot down Georgian drone aircraft…
Check out this video provided by Georgian military commanders of a unmanned drone aircraft that they claim was shot down by a Russian missile.
Tags: Abkhazia, Caucasus, Georgia, Kodori, Kremlin, Moscow, Russophile, South Ossetia
You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.
6 May, 2008 at 1:54 am
[...] tensions between Georgia and Russia continued to deteriorate throughout the month of April (see: A Race to the Bottom in Georgia), the prospect for violence seems more likely every day. Explore posts in the same categories: [...]