[LAF] Some useful stuff on Russia-Georgia

[Echo of Freedom]

Russia-Georgia: Behind the war on South Ossetia
<http://links. org.au/node/ 577>

August 16, 2008 -- On August 7, after a week of border clashes,
Georgia's pro-Western President Mikheil Saakashvili launched a military
attack against South Ossetia. South Ossetia, while internationally
recognised as part of Georgia, has been predominantly under the control
of a pro-independence administration since Georgia separated from the
former Soviet Union in 1991. Since a 1992 ceasefire, the South Ossetian
statelet has been protected by Russian peacekeepers. Within 24 hours,
Georgian troops had taken the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, after
destroying much of it with artillary. More than 30,000 refugees (out of
a population of 70,000) fled across the border to the Republic of North
Ossetia-Alania, which is part of the Russian Federation. Using this, and
the killing of 20 Russian peacekeepers, as pretexts, Russia intervened
in full force: bombing targets throughout Georgia, driving the Georgians
out of South Ossetia (including territory not previously held by the
South Ossetian administration) and crossing into Georgia-proper to take
the town of Gori.

* Read more <http://links. org.au/node/ 577>

Boris Kagarlitsky on the Russia-Georgia conflict & video
<http://links. org.au/node/ 576>

August 14, 2008 -- Georgia has resolutely condemned Russia's actions in
Chechnya. Russia has severely criticised NATO actions towards Serbia.
Later on the Georgian authorities tried to do the same thing in South
Ossetia as the Russian authorities had done in Chechnya. Moscow decided
to treat Georgia in the same way as NATO had treated Serbia. Bad habits
are contagious.

* Read more <http://links. org.au/node/ 576>