Russia Pulls Back in Georgia
Anatoly Serdyukov, Russia’s defence minister, declared his nation’s military pull out “fulfilled” on Friday. This proclamation came despite signs that Russian forces are digging in at locations in the vicinity of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
The cease-fire agreement brokered by the French and signed by both Russia and Georgia calls for the withdrawal of forces to their pre-conflict positions. The Kremlin has interpreted the agreement to allow for its forces to patrol the conflict zone in on on peacekeeping capacity. Georgia wonders how the Russians can act as peacekeepers for South Ossetia when they have been fighting on their behalf.
Yesterday, U.S. officials reacted with disappointment to what they consider to be an “incomplete” pullout as agreed under the cease-fire framework.
Russia seems determined to provide the support necessary for the South Ossetians to obtain independence from Georgia, while also exerting considerable pressure on the Georgian government in the hopes that it will bring down President Mikheil Saakashvili.
If we have learned anything from this conflict, it is that the Georgians are a strong and defiant people, and Saakashvili is a fighter. Neither will go quietly.
The West, in seeming disarray throughout this who crisis, needs to formulate a policy and diplomatic response that supports Georgia’s sovereignty and let’s the Kremlin know that there will be consequences for their actions. They must also work with both sides to ensure a continued cessation of hostilities. So far, this has not happened to the extent it should.
Tags: Serdyukov
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