Saturday, May 26, 2012

Caucasus Report

Is South Ossetia's 'Independence' Under Threat?

Is Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (left) ready to welcome South Ossetia's Eduard Kokoity into his federation?
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August 05, 2011

Three years after the Russia-Georgia war that served as the catalyst for Moscow's recognition of Georgian's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has suggested that South Ossetia could become part of the Russian Federation if "the Ossetian people" give their approval.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev took issue with that statement, affirming on August 4 that there were no legal or actual preconditions for South Ossetia to unite with North Ossetia as a Russian Federation subject. But Putin's trial balloon could add a new dimension to the political maneuvering under way in the run-up to the November ballot to elect a successor to de facto South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity.

Kokoity, 46, is a former Soviet wrestling champion and career Komsomol activist who was first elected to head the breakaway republic in November 2001. Since then, and especially since 2008, he has become increasingly authoritarian, cracking down on dissent and opposition parties and concentrating political power in the hands of a select group of cronies.

Kokoity's second presidential term expires in November, and the republic's constitution precludes him serving a third. The South Ossetian parliament voted down a proposal by a group of senior army personnel to hold a referendum on amending the constitution to lift that ban.

Kokoity himself has repeatedly ruled out amending the constitution to enable him to serve a third presidential term. At the same time, he has made clear that he has no intention of quitting politics. He may have hoped to emulate former Russian President Putin and become prime minister, which would give him the additional personal satisfaction of ousting incumbent Prime Minister Vadim Brovtsev, a former Russian businessman from Chelyabinsk whom the Kremlin imposed on him in August 2009.

The two men have been engaged in a bitter feud for over a year. Kokoity and the media subservient to him have repeatedly accused Brovtsev and his cabinet of inefficiency, specifically with regard to the slow pace of reconstruction of infrastructure destroyed during the 2008 war.

The real bone of contention, however, could well be who gets to siphon off what proportion of the billions of rubles allocated from the Russian federal budget to finance that reconstruction. The Russian Prosecutor-General's Office launched an investigation last summer into the use of those funds after some Russian officials complained of "irregularities" in allocating funding for reconstruction.   

An attempt by South Ossetia's parliament in early July to call a vote of no confidence in Brovtsev on the basis of a parliament commission's negative evaluation of the government's performance in 2010 not only failed, but triggered a walkout by the nominally pro-Kokoity People's Party. Kokoity responded by inviting "constructive opposition parties" to engage in "dialogue" and by reaching out to the extra-parliamentary social-democratic party Fydybasta.

Future President From Russia?

Kokoity has not said publicly who he considers most qualified to succeed him, only that the next president should be someone "who never left the republic, but took up arms to defend it." Amendments to the election law enacted in April already exclude any prospective candidate who has not lived permanently in South Ossetia for the past 10 years. That category includes virtually all opposition leaders now living in exile in Vladikavkaz or Moscow.

The Russian daily "Moskovsky komsomolets" reported last week that Kokoity told a meeting of his most trusted associates on July 16 that there were three potential presidential candidates, of whom the front-runner was Prosecutor-General Taymuraz Khugayev. Khugayev's sister is married to Kokoity's brother Robert. Khugayev has reportedly already submitted his resignation in order to prepare for his election campaign.

But according to Albert Jussoyev, a prominent and influential Moscow-based businessman and South Ossetian opposition figure, Khugayev is bitterly hated in South Ossetia for having harassed and imprisoned anyone who dared publicly criticize Kokoity. Khugayev's chances of winning a free and fair election would therefore seem to be minimal, but it would be naive to expect the ballot to meet those criteria.

The three political parties currently represented in the South Ossetian parliament have all signaled their intention to field a presidential candidate, as has Fydybasta, but none has yet selected one.

The Russian papers "Moskovsky komsomolets"  and "Vedomosti" both claim the consensus among observers in Moscow is that the Kremlin wants to ease Kokoity out of power, possibly with a pledge not to probe the embezzlement of the funds it allocated for reconstruction, and ensure the election in a (by Russian standards) free and fair ballot of a more honest, amenable, and malleable successor.

One such candidate, by virtue of his long-standing association with Gazprom, albeit nominally barred by the residency requirement, is Jussoyev. In a long interview with "Moskovsky komsomolets" on August 2, Jussoyev affirmed his readiness to run, stressing that "I have experience [and] a team who know what needs to be done."

Jussoyev has, moreover, already drafted a program titled "To be Worthy of Russia." But when asked his views on the possibility of South Ossetia becoming a Russian Federation subject, he equivocated. "I cannot see a future for our people without the closest cooperation with Russia. You know very well that most Ossetians dream of the unification of our nation within Russia. [But] the geopolitical reality is that South Ossetia has become an independent state," he replied. That caution could, however, be purely tactical if Jussoyev has already received assurances that the Kremlin will find a way to circumvent the residency requirement and engineer his election.

Joining The North

Kokoity for his part has been less than consistent in his pronouncements over the past three years on the optimum relations between South Ossetia and the Russian Federation. On the eve of the first anniversary of the conflict, he was quoted as saying "we shall build our statehood, but in a union with Russia. We do not rule out entering the Russian Federation." The overwhelming majority of the population supported the idea of accession to the Russian Federation, he added.

Last week, Kokoity told a Japanese interviewer that South Ossetia aspired to create a union state with Russia while retaining its independence. And he responded to Putin's trial balloon by advocating that South Ossetia accede to the Russia-Belarus Union State once Belarus has formally recognized South Ossetia as independent. Deputy parliament speaker Yury Dzitstsoity (also rumored to be a possible successor to Kokoity) similarly spoke in favor of the republic's accession to the Russia-Belarus Union State. 

Belarus has, however, consistently declined to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia, whether in response to repeated pleas from Tbilisi or for fear of worsening even further its already strained relations with the European Union is not clear.

To date, there has been no comment on Putin's proposal from the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, although Putin's reference to "the Ossetian people" implies that the population of that Russian Federation subject should have a say in any decision on merging the two existing Ossetian polities into one under Russian control to get rid of the "borders between them" that Putin dubbed "a problem." If the issue were ever put to a referendum, the North Ossetian vote would be decisive, given that the republic's population (712,900) is 10 times more than that of South Ossetia.

Enlarging the Russian North Caucasus by subsuming South Ossetia could prove political dynamite, however, in light of increasingly vociferous calls from Russian nationalists to cut loose the entire region as a drain on Russian resources. The Russian Finance Ministry has already rejected as excessive the Ministry for Regional Development's demand for 3.9 trillion rubles ($140 billion) in funds for the North Caucasus over the next 14 years. (Financially, however, subsidizing South Ossetia on the same terms as other North Caucasus republics might prove cheaper than bankrolling Kokoity.)

For that reason, the issue is likely to be shelved until after next year's Russian presidential election. If it forms part of Putin's long-term plans, however, he will have to move fast and skillfully if he wants to thwart Kokoity's bid to preserve his hold on power by engineering the election of Khugayev as his successor.

Tags: South Ossetia , Eduard Kokoity

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Comment Sorting
Comments
     
by: HS from: Seattle, USA
August 05, 2011 19:33
"You know very well that most Ossetians dream of the unification of our nation within Russia." Doesn't sound like a statement that should come from someone who leads a nation that claims that it has the right to independence. The way Ossetians describe their culture and history, they are as different from Russians as they are from Georgians. If he truly believes that the Ossetians form a nation, why doesn't he call for North Ossetia to secede from Russia, and join with South Ossetia and unify the "Ossetian Nation" that way?
In Response
by: Konstantin from: Los Angeles
August 07, 2011 04:55
"Most Osetinians" forced by Russian occupiers!
In part it is Georgian fault - but in very small part.

Before 5-th Century AD, would be North Osetia was extention
of Northern Kartly, thought even more scarsly populated than
Kartly at the time.
In 5-th Century AD 10 tribes of Israel came - two of them, coarsed
Sam and Gad hords, some 1-2 millions or so, attacked pre-Georgians
in Northern Caucasus - pre-Georgians asked their old friends for help,
Skifians came from South Ukraine and settled in Northern-West of
Osdetia, Guns, Hans mixed with Medians, came from Mountain
Altay and settled in North-East of Osetia and tribe of Dan settled in
between.
Southern part of North Osetia was pre-Georgian, with settled
soon after in the middle Medians of Besso.

Since 5-th Century AD North Osetia was part of United Georgian
Kingdom or in Common Wealh with Georgia.
South Osetians were just North Osetian Knights from Georgian
King's army that asked to settle on windy hill,
later it became Tchinvali.

Since Visantian Greco-Macedonian homosexuals-cut-throats started
their intrigues in Osetia, than their Russian palls Varangas joined in,
it were difficult times between Georgians and North Osetians,
that lead to extermination of most of Osetins through Asov Sea
in 8 Century AD and temporary lost by Georgia of Sochi and North
Abkhazia - done by coarsed tribe Gad, mixed with Pechenegies.

Than times became even more difficult when Mongols killed most of
Georgia and Muslims spread their influence in Caucasus.
Still, South Osetia was Georgia and Osetins were Christians.
Even North Osetins return again to believe that they are half
Georgians since after Caucasian war.
After Russian Revolution Lenin invaded Georgian Sochi, Abkhazia
and Northe Osetia with genocide against Georgians.
later leader of North Osetia, Georgian, Orgonikidze, was assassinated
by Russians.
Just before that, Russians offered to Georgia "Absorb and cleanse"
North Osetia - Georgia declined - they do not absorb and cleanse
peoples and nations.

Since pact of 1954-56, Russians forceing on Osetia annexation for
Russia Osetia and Georgian "Tchinvali".

Georgians small fault - they spread too sin to save the World and
CIS from extermination by Nazi Germany and rebuilding after WW2.
Thuis they appeared too weak to defend number of nations,
including themselves and Osetins from genetic war by Rashkas.
It is what Rashkas also use to say:

"You are consious - but we are not!
You would not dare not to save our World -
We will grabb your land and housing and we will plot!
Russia inherrit all, you'll die in pain amplifiers without a word!"

Medvedev said he can kill Saakashvili and all non-Russians in
Euro-Asia just by snap of fingers.
Maybe USA too?
Could be - USA is so controlled by Rashkas aparatchics and with
help of Brits by imperio-resurectors, that if history would repeit itself,
like in 1936 - no Albert Einshtein and Alexandr Kartveli anymore,
they would be tortured and murdered on arival by USA agencies
of plagiarists by order of Rashka, Prashka and Norman blyashka...
In Response
by: Sivan from: Paris
August 22, 2011 16:42
Your "history" lessons make me laugh so hard! When the Sarmatian ancestors of Ossetians were making their presence felt in modern day Europe, your people were living under Persian control. Please, do not try to hide this history of yours. All serious historians know this as truth. And are you claiming that you are indeed Semitic as well?!!?
In Response
by: Konstantin from: Los Angeles
August 22, 2011 20:42
"S? Ivan" from "Persia (Paris in Bible)" can "laugh hard (Through teeth)",
reading reference maps: "WorldFreedomAndTruth.info" - history lessons
of 11-12 Milleniums of known and from archeology history.
It is true that Skiffs and Sarmats lived in Ukraine, before they came to
North Caucasus by request of their pre-Georgian allies and trade
partners in 5-th B.C. (Sorry, I made in hurry a misstake comment -
tribes of Israel came in 5-th B.C.).
They were in part make-up of Europe - not "S. Ivanian" (naoborot)
way, thought.
It happened later than pre-Georgian for-fathers of Caucasian race!

6-2 Milleniums ago - pre-Georgians settled North - through Ukraine
(mixing with Karpatian group) and through Russia (mixing with Ural
group). Since and later, being remote parts of Median CIS and UN
(center in South-West of pre-Georgia), Russia and Ukraine geneticly
and in forming their languages were influenced, as well as was Persia.
That doesn't make them Persians!

Also, Osetins consist of parts - pre-Georgians, Skifians, tribe of Dan,
Median-Hanian Guns, Medians (like in Beslan) and Georgians again
(since Osetia was part of United Kingdom). Also, increasingly, Osetins
are influxed by Russian armies and spies, oboroten's and children of
raped by Russian spies Osetin women, turned snitches, murderers
and Gauliters...
And lying like "Sa Ivan"...

European Civilization and first modern settlements started by
pre-Georgians, leaving planes of Ararat, because of invading hords
of Urartu genocidal animals and by accompaning them individuals
and small groups of South-West pre-Georgians from Hetia, Lidia,
Colhis and alike - 35 Centuries ago.

Secondary waves came to Europe later, mostly in middle ages -
also relatives of pre-Georgians - Avars (Bavaria), Skiffs and Sarmats
(German and British Saxony), Visigots from Northern-Western
Caucasus (through South Germany to Spain), Franks (white
Tatars), Osetins also participated in it (Danmark) and so on...

Georgia didn't live under Persian control - just opposite!
Median UN was taming aggression of Persian hords - till they
betrayed Media, incited by Chaldeo-Babilonian witchy Neanderthals.
Later Persia became more arrogant and pre-Georgians invited the
Mecedonian and defieted Daruius - but Macedonian refused to
restore Median United Nation...
Most of generals of Muslim Persia, Ottomans and Russia were
Georgians, but if they turned Empires becaming arrogant, Georgians
had to reorganize Civilized World...
Sure, that scared mediocre Empires - they often uinleashed genocides
like Russian animals in Afghanistan, Chechnia or Abkhazia...
Are you promissing Osetins shear of the loot of destroyed Human
Civilization by would be World Russian Empire?
Calling the Osetins Persians?
How many of them so stupid?
Your "serious historians" are Russian Gebbelses from GRU, KGB,
Spetcnaz and alike!
Do not hide their true names - "Vazhnyiy strashnyiy Russkiy Nachal'nik"
for your kind "Sa Ivan"!

There is no "Semitic" - it is degeneracy invented by Levitic Chaldeo-
Babilonian Sara's Pharisees to please "Strashnyiy Imperskiy Nachal'nik"
by a good ansestry in the Bible.
Iber was just a South Georgian, before 3,500 B.C. from Plain of Ararat.
If "Sa Ivan" wants so - he might call Osetins "Semites" (Tribe of Dan
is descandent of Iber - south Georgian - what???)...

by: John Roberts from: Australia
August 05, 2011 21:38
Gee, sounds like they actually have a vibrant political scene in South Ossetia.

Compare and contrast to Georgia itself. In South Ossetia the parliament is game enough to vote against the wishes of the President. In Georgia today everyone in parliament, the media, opposition figures (and their husbands), protesters, and the rest of civil society live in fear of their President and his secret police, with spy dramas everyday, use of the legal system to harass opposition figures, and total government control of the media. Saakashvili is preparing himself to be ruler-for-life in Georgia.
In Response
by: Andrew from: Tbilisi
August 06, 2011 12:49
John, looks like another off the cuff remark from a know nothing Australian.

Did you miss the bit where it talks about Kokoity using intimidation to crush dissent in South Ossetia? Did you miss the ethnic cleansing of Georgians in 2008, or the expulsion of Ossetians who lived in pro-Georgian villages in the conflict zone?

As for this assinine comment of yours " In Georgia today everyone in parliament, the media, opposition figures (and their husbands), protesters, and the rest of civil society live in fear of their President and his secret police"

More BS, when the photojournalists (who admitted to spying for Russia) were arrested, opposition and media activists launched a public campaign without fear of reprisal, resulting in the 3 photojournalists being released after providing useful information on Russian activities in Georgia.

People who oppose the president can make any denigrating comment in print, TV, or on the street corner without fear of arrest (or worse) that they would suffer in South Ossetia, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan etc.

The oppositions main problem is that they cannot agree on the colour of sh*te and they are seen by the majority of the population as pro Russian and people fear that the opposition will lead them back to the bad old days of Russian control and ever spiraling corruption.

BTW, the refusal of political parties to allow Kokoity to throw out his Russian PM was due to the intervention of Putin, not any "vibrant political scene"

I suggest you get an education.

Try reading what freedom house has to say about Georgia, South Ossetia, and Russia.

South Ossetia NOT FREE - WORSENING
http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=22&year=2011&country=8193

Russia NOT FREE - WORSENING
http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=363&year=2011&country=8119

Georgia PARTIALLY FREE - IMPROVING
http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=22&year=2011&country=8042
In Response
by: Danny from: LA
August 07, 2011 07:34
This coming from a Georgian who uses a Western name and continuously trolls such sites looking to demean and belittle the efforts of these two nations to free themselves from Georgian tyranny and oppression. Perhaps your people could do the right thing and recognize Abkhazia and Ossetia as independent? Maybe then the Caucasus could finally see some peace among these nations and start working towards building mutually benefical and promising ties with one another. But alas, as long as the Georgian state continues to dance to the American puppeteers' tunes, that shall not be.
In Response
by: Andrew from: Tbilisi
August 07, 2011 12:41
Listen "Danny" boy. I am not Georgian, I am an ex-pat New Zealander living and working in Tbilisi.

You really are barking up the wrong tree when you talk about "Georgian tyranny", after all it was the Russian backed separatists in those Georgian provinces that committed massive crimes against humanity in the form of ethnic cleansing and mass murder.

In addition, the Georgian administration has repeatedly offered full autonomy to both regions, and in the case of Abkhazia, that the vice president of Georgia would be an Abkhaz with full veto power over any central government legislation relating to Abkhazia.

Yes, very tyrannical. Certainly a much better deal than what the Russians are giving them now, when Russia is demanding Abkhazia cede land to Russia on the south bank of the Psou river etc

Also compare the Georgian proposals to the apartheid system practiced in Gali, a region of Abkhazia that is majority Georgian, over 90% in fact, where the population is banned from using their own language, are routinely terrorized by Abkhaz & Russian troops, are denied citizenship or the right to vote and so on.

As for your moronic comment "Perhaps your people could do the right thing and recognize Abkhazia and Ossetia as independent? Maybe then the Caucasus could finally see some peace among these nations and start working towards building mutually benefical and promising ties with one another. "

Interestingly when South Ossetian leader Ludvig Chibirov and Dimitry Sanakoyev began to try and reconcile with Georgia in the early 2000's they were removed from power by Putin, and replaced by Kokoity and co.

The only way to peace and reconciliation in the Caucasus is "Russia out".

I kindly suggest you get an education "Danny"
In Response
by: Konstantin from: Los Angeles
August 08, 2011 05:10
I think that "Danny" is the same that "King David" and "David".
Russia has millions of hulligans to use dirty language womit,
But only one Caucasian-Russian mix to lie literatly and boldly,
So far, in LA. Abkhazia consists of 5 Georgian parts, Danny.

Is "Danny" to missguide the Quin by relationship of "Dan"
And Danmark, expand bloody Russia? London burning,
And Arab countries - invaded by "brotherhoods Ivans",
Part Neanderthals, spured by Russian expansion,
Energy and economy crises - what is cooking?

Russia invade Adyga in name of Russia spies.
Russia invade Gudauta in name of few Adygas.
Russia invaded Georgian Abkhazia in name of:
10% Gudauta GRU,KGB, Spetcnaz , Adyga plov
And betrail, expelling 90% of genuin Georgians!

South Osetia was alwsays Georgia, Tchinvali hill
Was populated by permission of Georgian Kings
With North Osetins - soldiers of Georgian armies.
One hill of gests - with Georgian villages arround.

Russian invadors headquarters bold lier, "Danny",
Must glue a "birch leave" af anti-American slogans.
It is USA that turning "puppeteers", by 1954 "pacti",
Forged by Russia, Quin and Bechtel. Before gone,
Georgians, CIS, Eastern Europe and me still "acti",
(As did Stalin and Kartvelishvili) - to stop your nazis.
In Response
by: Danny from: LA
August 22, 2011 16:40
Andrew the Georgian: First of all, please refrain from calling me Danny boy.

Second, the Russians were actually supporting the Georgians during the Abkhaz-Georgian conflict, and this is easily proven. There is even a Georgian documentary that proves this out there on the Internet.

Third, the Georgians were the ones who brought death and destruction to the Abkhaz. Gia Karkashvili, who is supposedly a POLITICIAN, was the man who went on live TV in that time and publicly asked for the genocide of the entire Abkhaz nation. Don't believe me? Go to Youtube.

Fourth: The people that your government claims were "ethnically cleansed" actually fled the fighting early on. Some Georgians remained, from which some were fighting with the Abkhaz and some with their brethren. As the Abkhaz & other minority groups living in Abkhazia also suffered from casualties, I am not sure why you think it's OK to ignore those deaths and instead rabidly focus on the ones you want to. Let's not pretend this is more than what it really was: a Georgian mass invasion of Abkhazia with the intent to murder and annihilate the entire people from its native lands. If this sounds familiar, it's because the Georgians were instrumental in doing this to Abkhaz from centuries back, most recently as part of Russian imperialist forces during the Russo-Caucasian Wars. OOPS

I am confused as to your allegations regarding Gali. May I remind you, "Mr. Expat", of an incident that occured in Georgia proper in recent history. Mingrelians asked for the Bible to be translated into their language, and this was a no-no to Kartvelians, who turned this request into a major problem for them. Now, compare this to Abkhazia, where the government encourages and respects all minority groups and Mingrelians there can freely learn to read, write, and do whatever they like in their own language and customs. From what I've heard from Svans and other minority groups who had lived or been in Georgia, this is not that easy to do there. The Kartvelian influence is dynamic there, and unfortunately stomps on others. Guess the Georgian regime hasn't learned from its mistakes in the past.

I am puzzled as to why you should sink so low to call my comments "moronic" when indeed, they offer the best solution for this situation. First of all, Abkhaz and Ossetians will never cede to Georgia and they will never accept to be a part of this oppressive nation again. Next, I find your comment pathetic and unruly, and not backed up by proper counterarguments. Next time, do yourself a favor and write something more eloquent. By the way, your infantile claims of Georgia offering autonomy to these nations is wrong. That is why the Georgians invaded Abkhazia in the 1980s: because they ASKED FOR MORE AUTONOMY BACK THEN. Surprise, surprise: now they offer it and think that they should accept this now, after they invaded their countries and killed their innocent people. You tell me if any other sane nation-state would accept such a situation, Mr. "Kiwi".

I don't entirely buy your claims that you are an "expat" either, but that could be possible. What happened, did you meet a nice Georgian girl there and feel the need to defend her nation's crimes to the Internet here? Or are you, like so many others here, a mere pseudonym? You make me smile.

Wow....people today!
In Response
by: Andrew from: Auckland
August 23, 2011 06:18
Actually Danny boy, there is far more evidence about the Russians supporting the Abkhaz, including the use of Russian aviation and the Black Sea fleet, and Russian army units during the siege of Sokhumi, Russian logistical support for the separatists, and the Russians planning and leading Abkhaz military operations.

The Human Rights Watch states: Although the Russian government continued to declare itself officially neutral in the war, parts of Russian public opinion and a significant group in the parliament, primarily Russian nationalists, who had never been favourably disposed toward the Georgians, began to tilt toward the Abkhaz at least by December. During this period the Abkhaz side obtained a large number of armor, tanks (T-72 and T-80) and heavy artillery. The question remains whether there were specific orders concerning the transfer of weapons to Abkhaz side and if so, whom they were issued by. Russian border guards allowed the Chechen fighters led by Shamil Basayev to cross into Abkhazia or at least did nothing to prevent them from arriving in the conflict zone. The defense minister in the secessionist government and one of the main organizers of the Abkhaz armed units was the professional Russian military officer Sultan Sosnaliev from the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic.
The most obvious example of Russian support to the Abkhaz side in 1993 was the bombing of Georgian-held Sukhumi by Russian fighter-bombers. The Russian Defence minister Pavel Grachev consistently denied it, but after Georgians succeeded in bringing down one SU-27 fighter-bomber and UN experts identified the dead pilot as Russian it became irrefutable. Nevertheless some equipment was turned over to Georgia according to the previous agreements in 1993. Russian general Grachev claimed, that Georgian side has painted the aircraft to resemble Russian Air Force aircraft and bombed their own positions, killing hundreds of their own people in Eshera and Sukhumi. This statement raised anger and utter contempt among Georgians toward the Russian side.
The Russian journalist Dmitry Kholodov, who has witnessed the Russian bombardment of Sukhumi, wrote a couple of compiling reports with detailed description of humanitarian catastrophe:
"The shelling of Sukhumi by Russians is the most disgusting thing in this war. All the residents of Sukhumi remember the first shelling. It took place on December 2, 1992. The first rocket fell on Peace Street. They struck at crowded places. The next strategic target was the town market, which was hit with great precision. Eighteen people were killed that day. There were always lots of people in the market."
Kholodov also reported on the Russian volunteers fighting on the separatist side:
"Russians, too, are fighting there. We often heard from Georgian guards how Russian mercenaries were attacking: It's a blood-curdling sight - they have helmets and firm, bullet-proof jackets on and their legs are armored as well. They advance with their heads bent down, like robots ready to kill. There is no use shooting at them. No tanks are needed, they are followed by the Abkhaz behind."

Try learning to read documents other than those prepared by genocidal separatist maniacs in Sokhumi, or in Moscow, you might learn something.

As for Abkhazia allowing all languages, more lies. Abkhazia has banned Georgian and Mingrelian education in Gali, this is a fact. All education in Gali is to be conducted in Russian according to Abkhaz law.

As for your comments about Georgian oppression of ethnic minorities, more rubbish, I suspect I know a lot more Mingelians and Svans than you do, particularly those from Khodori, and they are proud to be Georgian, in fact if an idiot like yourself tried to tell a Mingrelian or a Svan they were not Georgian I would not like to be in your shoes.


In Response
by: Michelle from: Toronto
August 28, 2011 08:35
Andrew, everytime I come on here to read articles, there you are, ranting away offering propaganda and carefully crafted lies to support your hacked side. Do yourself a favor, buy a bottle of Jameson and spend a nice night alone with your wife instead of shaming yourself on here time and time. I've been to Georgia 7 times in the past few years as part of my work and the situation is in fact WORSENING, not IMPROVING. You are either lying or being paid to write this trash. Grow up!
In Response
by: Mamuka
August 06, 2011 16:13
Everybody knows about the May 26th demonstration in Tbilisi where Nino Burjanadze's stick-wielding thugs had to be cleared off of Rustaveli. The EU cried out in horror. But nobody knows that over the next few days, several peaceful demonstrations took place along the same route. Traffic was blocked. But on those occasions the protesters dispersed peacefully after having their say. Nobody paid any attention to this.

And yet people like Andrew are convinced that Georgia is some kind of police state and Misha is some kind of Hitler. You can turn on TV every day and hear people saying that Misha is like Hitler. But that's about all they say and so very few people pay attention.
In Response
by: Konstantin from: Los Angeles
August 07, 2011 16:04
O, John knows, even he might be in Australia.
He most likely is a Russian, lying as "trali-vali",
While Russians grabb Suhumi and Tchinvali,
Miss not, but "vrat', drugogo prikaza ne davali"

You sure are right, Andrew, in your comments,
Thought I wouldn't just reason with damn lier,
Without mentioning outraging Gebbelsments,
He uses, like "vibrant politics" for pair of pliers
That Russia uses in annexation - as Gauliters.

People "against the wishes of the president"
In South Osetia do not vote, just blown away,
Like before Russian Invasion - the opposition
Suffered from Russia and their rape kids hate.

People of South Osetia live in Georgia - most.
Georgians lived in "S. Osetia" villages before.
Tchinvali's Osetins said in 2008 Russia bust:
"We simply have no place go - it is our home".

Take away Russia armies, the rape-children
And spies - Osetins will negotiate with Georgia...
After all, "South Osetia" was always and is Georgia,
Into which Russia pushing people without other place to live
And forcing on them nazi propaganda - like Visantia in 800 A.D. ...


by: Konstantin from: Los Angeles
August 07, 2011 02:34
Look at the picture above. Is it a secret insignia of the "Third Force"?
Putins's bold-bald attemps encircle half Globe, staring persistently.
Kakoyty's bold-bald simce just cut by "GRU parikmaher", or worse,
And he is smiling like "Mos'e Buanas'e at Reshil'e" - submissivly.

Kakoyty has to be gratefull for saving him and the few half-Osetin
Children of rape by Boldyrev spies from trial by the Osetia people,
Russia invaders destroyed his Osetin opponents, Georgian kins.
Or GRU shaved the sign - before apply the "Columbian neck-tie"?

No wonder he looks at his Master with such a slavish admiration.
Putin and Medvedev maneuvre - as "good Gestapo" and "bad SS".
It's annex-repopulate Euro-Asia as pre-Revolution imperialization.
It was plotted since 1954-56, starting with Georgia and Caucasus.

"...Authoritarian... ...cracking... ...dissent and opposition... ...cronies"
Is missguiding, because he and his few "cronies" are the snitches
Of invading Russia total race warfare - children of rape by agentura
Of Boldyrev's and alike armies, broken down, brainwashed "duras",
Brought by invading armies of Russia, against the Osetin's wishes.

Russia "invest in reconstruction" also missguiding - all investments
Would go for reinforsment - influx of ethnic Russians in both Osetias
And establishing there Russian military platcdarms for man.....shkas.
Russia attacked as Georgia helped with economic and humanitarian
In "Abkhazia" and "Osetia" to steal what Georgians built and "unitazen".

People in Both Osetias would wish be Common Wealth with Georgia,
As would with most of Caucasians, except Quislings and slave-spies
Of Russia but Russia overturn their government, opponents cleansed,
Russian armies of death and GRU, Spetcnaz, KGB an occupying force
With mind-readers and pseudo-terrorists most population is mortified.

As for South Osetia, an influx of Russian spies and slaves by the Lenin
And since Khrutchev doesn't change it, South Osetia is genuin Georgia.
Most of Genuin Osetins still live in Georgia. Another thousand of cretins
Brought to "Abkhazia" and "South Osetia" doesn't make it bloody Russia,
Even stench of Cheremushka, cut-off heads and "Rus'" made some run.
by: Felipe from: Brazil
August 09, 2011 17:43
I think it´s a matter of time to have both South Ossetia and Abkhazia fully integrated as political and territorial subjects of Russia. Those small pieces of land are economically inviable to live on their own, with huge stakes of ethnic Russians and Sukhumi and Tskhinvali are desperately craving to receive the very same roubles from the Kremlin that other Russian North Caucasus republics actually do for a long time. People say Putin is authoritarian, this and that. But it´s all empty talking when we compare him with Saakashvili. The current Georgian president seems determined to emulate the living of the most famous Georgian ever - Stalin -, totally ruthless against any kind of protesting in Georgia or whatever political camp opposing his policies
In Response
by: Konstantin from: Los Angeles
August 09, 2011 22:38
I recognize you by hate and crow's crowing expanding Russia
And in many cases by the Russian "oborotens" habit to name
Themselves as nation they infiltrate would eat like own kasha,
Spain and Portugal, as well as Brazil, would buy "Filipe" game.

As evil as Putin is, he is only trained since Khrutchev under-ich
Of Varaga-Prasha military and government, since 1941 mutney
Of ethnic Russian Chauvinist ruling class - that since 1954-56
made and carrying pact to breed-out Russia by bitchy treachery
And genocides by usurping non-Russian's USSR weapon-trick.

Medvedev evil too, but as propaganda mouth of Putin and above,
As inhuman as all of them and Putin, lying boldly - almost smart,
Like half breed Varag with Levitic Sara and Babilonian Cossack.
Even as president of country he must honor truth - not lying buff!

Maybe he didn't know, but Russian spies started several month
Beforte Russian invasion in my apartment in USA harrassment,
Increasingly before August 2008, screaming: "Georgia finished!
Our army is ready to invade and Russia will repopulate its land!"

Just before invasion they destroyed my computers and the files,
Related to Chronology of events, by choice I found few old disks:
"WorldFreedomAndTruth.info" Chronology - read Medvedev that!
What Chronology Medvedev is talking about? "Fe-lipa" better put:

"...fully integrated (repopulate by Rashkas)... ...subjects of Russia
(Ethnic Russians or bastards of their rape)". Roubles are parasha
That emerged only as benevolance of the West to Shevardnadze's
Promiss to the West and complicities of Quin-mother and Bechtel.

They secretly promote imperial resurection, only to be betrayed too,
By Varanga-Prashka-Bolshevic's-Babilon that think they out-served
Their usefullness. Russia put Gas-Oil neck-tie on the West and boo
That activating pseudo-Revolutionaly half-Neanderthals that served
Russia. Britain and Muslem World burning as were Georgian lands.

Saakashvili? Stalin? Russia lied about both - pinn their own crimes
On the non-Russian victims of treasonous Varanga, Papua-Magoga
That ingjects larva into its victim, eating them from incide-out lace as
You doing here, "Fe-Lipa". How far loyalty to contributions of the past
To Russia prevent us from saving World from arrogant Russian ass?
In Response
by: David from: Los Angeles
August 22, 2011 16:26
You are actually wrong about Abkhazia not having an "enviable" economic situation. Besides tourism, agriculture, etc., there is a great deal of promise of investment in this nation and foreign investments have actually risen in the past few years as a result of this. Not sure where you are reading your info from, but I just wanted to clear this up. Abkhazia is perfectly capable of sustaining itself and has done so for quite some time, even with a bullying Georgia on one side and the sanctions Russia had placed on it for years on the other. Being that Georgia's economic situation at the moment is abysmal, I fail to see how they are in a better situation. Malnutrition among children is up to 45%, for example. Thousands leave Georgia every year for Russia primarily, among other nations. Investment has gone done in the past several months, and corruption is rife. Over 2/3 of Georgians suffer from some sort of disparity, whether it is health, economic, etc. You do the math.
In Response
by: Felipe from: Brazil
August 22, 2011 21:08
Thanks for your comments, David. They are important for our little "debate" over here. You are absolutely right about Georgia: Saakashvili´s gov is terrible, but it´s not only Georgia that´s lagging behind the other republics in this region. Armenia´s situation, they say, is quite appalling and even Azerbaijan, despite the oil cash, is not looking good. Maybe widespread corruption is the key to understand those issues in the Caucasus.
Abkhazia´s current situation is a little bit better off than in South Ossetia, but I think their overall condition will only substantially improve with the very same financial backing dispensed to Chechnya, for instance, flooded with dollars from Moscow. Otherwise, recovery in those war-battered areas will be somewhat long and painful.
In Response
by: David from: Los angeles
August 23, 2011 21:34
Felipe, thank you for your comments. you are correct. Georgia in this case I think grew a spine when it tried to annihilate the Abkhaz and Ossetian nations in the past several years because of support from either Russia or the US. I worry for its future as a neighboring state of nations that are trying to survive alongside it, because, as you can tell it's very unstable. And ignore these Konstantin and Andrew, they are simply Georgian agents. Konstantin was stupid enough to put his personal information on the Internet. I won't say where, but the fact that someone can do that is pretty weird. Have a great day from sunny LA!
In Response
by: Andrew from: Auckland
August 23, 2011 06:00
Ahem, Filepe, I suggest you come and have a look at Georgia before you mouth off.

Georgia is the most liberal country in the Caucasus, and in the former USSR only the Baltic Republics have a better standing in international freedom.

As for this comment of yours "totally ruthless against any kind of protesting" well that explains why the recent protests were given permits, and went on for several days near Gmiris Moedani (Hero's square) and also for 2 days outside the parliament. The riot police only went in when the protesters declared they would break the terms of their permit and disrupt the Georgian independence day parade even though the government had offered them many alternate public venues to protest that day.

The man most determined to emulate Stalin (who was also of Ossetian and Russian ethnicity one might add) is Putin. With the blood of over 100,000 Chechens on his hand, political murder of those who criticize him, and his total control of the media, he is Stalin 2.0

Then there is Kokoity, a vile little chap, and as for the Abkhazian administration, a big fat "not free" for them from Freedom House and pretty much every European institution from the EU to the OSCE, both of which BTW condemn Abkhazia for ethnic cleansing and other crimes against humanity.

Now lets talk about Brazil and the favella shall we? Georgian police don't kill children to raise property values......
In Response
by: 55North from: Newcastle upon Tyne
August 23, 2011 19:37
Thank heavens for your sanity, Andrew, in a madhouse of a discussion about a 'state' whose population is the same as the suburb I live in!

People should get a sense of proportion about this historic aberation, and marvel at how the rogues that here dwell can screw the Kremlin Kadyrov-style.

As for Konstantin, always a class act. I had wondered what happened to him (in another forum). Shame that I can't really understand him, and that he only seems to be able to approach a discussion through incomprehensible anthropology.
In Response
by: Felipe from: Brazil
August 23, 2011 22:25
Well, Andrew. I respect your comments, but I can´t agree with them. It´s quite a pattern in the West comparing Putin with some kind of dictator as Joseph Stalin or the kind. After all, it was far more convenient for the West the "good times" of Boris Yeltsin in power and all the chaos that succeeded than a nationalist like VVP, wasn´t it? This long and dirty PR campaign against Putin is waged by Russian gangsters in exile like Boris Berezovsky, using Britain as a launching pad to fight Russia. These crooks used to exert enourmous influence in Kremlin´s political and economical affairs for their own sake during the 90´s. But that changed it all with the rise of Putin to power in 2000, when white-collar criminals were kicked out of the country ( like Berezovsky or Gusinsky ) or simply jailed ( Mikhail Khodorkovsky ).
Now Georgia: West´s simpathy for Saakashvili goes much further than just "democracy", a very feeble value in the Caucasus. The current Georgian president is the kind of leader Western nations desperately need in order to pump oil out of the Caspian Sea, bypassing Russia via the Baku-Tbilisi-Çeyhan oilpipes. Therefore, their simpathy towards Saakashvili has absolutely nothing to do with human rights, freedom of speech or democracy, but their own energy security. Russia is trying to regain control over an area which used to be theirs under Soviet times. Yeltsin lost it all. But Putin is recovering lost ground in an area extremely vital for Russia. Step by step, but always forward.
Now let´s talk about NZ and the Maori gangs? They look like much more threatening than Brazilian policemen. Honestly speaking, never heard about killing children in the slums in order to increase their real-estate values.
Ahem, kiwi guy, my name is Felipe not Filepe.
In Response
by: Andrew from: Auckland
August 24, 2011 16:34
Felipe, what are you smoking? Sure seems like strong stuff.

In Putin's Russia the white collar criminals have become much stronger, richer, and part of the ruling elite.

In addition you seem to know very little about the Caucasus, and very little about Brazilian police methods including extrajudicial murder

Brazil police 'kill 11,000 in six years'
Police in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo have killed more than 11,000 people in the past six years, many in execution-style murders, according to a report released by Human Rights Watch.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/brazil/6765724/Brazil-police-kill-11000-in-six-years.html

KILLING OF BRAZILIAN JUDGE EXPOSES POLICE CORRUPTION

Acioli was known as an uncompromising judge who had long investigated cases of police involvement in death squads, militias and drug gangs operating in Rio de Janeiro’s metropolitan region. Over the past decade she had sentenced around 60 police officers involved in death squads and militia groups – mafias that use violence and extortion to intimidate and exert control over communities.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/police-suspected-armed-ambush-killed-brazilian-judge-2011-08-16

Brazilian police 'execute thousands'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4463010.stm

Police frequently kill criminal suspects and ordinary citizens in Brazil, driving up the homicide rate in what is already one of the world's most violent countries, the United Nations said on Monday.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/09/15/us-brazil-violence-idUSN1528470720080915
In Response
by: Sara from: London
August 25, 2011 03:48
What is wrong with you? How much do you get paid to write lies and insults? Shame!
by: tim jones from: sydney
September 01, 2011 04:35
yes. it may be.

About This Blog

Written by analyst Liz Fuller, the "Caucasus Report" blog will offer the sort of in-depth analysis that was the hallmark of the "RFE/RL Caucasus Report." It also aims, to borrow a metaphor from Tom de Waal, to act as a smoke detector, focusing attention on potential conflict situations and crises throughout the region.