Transwiki:Georgian–Ossetian conflict

From Wikibooks, the open-content textbooks collection

Template:Current related Template:Infobox Military Conflict

The Georgian–Ossetian conflict refers to the ethno-political conflict in Georgia's former autonomous region of South Ossetia, which evolved in 1989 and developed into a civil war in 1991–1992. Despite a declared ceasefire and numerous peace efforts, the conflict remains unresolved, minor armed incidents persist and a large part of the region is still out of control of the central Georgian government. In 2007, the Georgian government held its first state commission to define South Ossetia's status within the Georgian state. In August the same year, diplomatic tensions between Georgia and Russia heightened as two Russian fighter aircraft were accused of violating Georgian airspace, with one firing an anti-radiation missile onto Georgian territory south of the Ossetian conflict zone.

[edit] Origins of the conflict

Template:Georgia-Russia The South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast was created in 1922 after the Soviet occupation of Georgia in the part of historical Georgian province Shida Kartli. Generally speaking, Georgians and Ossetians have been living in peace with each other except for the episodes in 1918–1920. Both ethnicities have had a high level of interaction and a high rate of intermarriages.

In the late 1980s, rising nationalism in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) and country’s movement towards independence were opposed by the Ossetian nationalistic organization, Ademon Nykhas (Popular Front), which demanded greater autonomy for the region and finally, unification with Russia’s North Ossetia. On November 10, 1989, the South Ossetian Supreme Soviet approved a decision to unite South Ossetia with the North Ossetian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. However, a day later, the Georgian SSR Supreme Soviet revoked the decision and on 23 November, thousands of Georgian nationalists led by Zviad Gamsakhurdia and other opposition leaders marched to Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian capital, to hold a meeting there. The Ossetians mobilized blocking the road and only the interference of Soviet Army units could avoid the clash between the two demonstrations. The Soviet commanders made Georgian demonstrators turn back. However, several people were wounded in subsequent clashes between Georgians and Ossetians.

On 20 September 1990, the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast declared independence as the South Ossetian Democratic Soviet Republic, appealing to Moscow to recognise it as an independent subject of the Soviet Union. When the election of the Georgian Supreme Council took place in October 1990, it was boycotted by the South Ossetians. On December 10, 1990, South Ossetia held its own elections, declared illegal by Georgia. A day later, Georgian Supreme Soviet canceled the results of the Ossetian elections and abolished South Ossetian autonomy.^[1]

On December 11, 1990, several bloody incidents occurred in and around Tskhinvali. Georgian government declared a state of emergency in the districts of Tskhinvali and Java on December 12. Georgian police and National Guards units were dispatched in the region to disarm Ossetian armed groups.

It should be noted that at the time of the dissolution of the USSR, the United States government recognized as legitimate the pre-Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact 1933 borders of the country (the Franklin D. Roosevelt government established diplomatic relations with the Kremlin at the end of that year^[2]). Because of this, the George H. Bush administration openly supported the restoration of independence of the Baltic SSRs, but regarded the questions related to the independence and territorial conflicts of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the rest of the Transcaucasus — which were integral part of the USSR with international borders unaltered since the 1920s — as internal Soviet affairs.^[3]

[edit] The conflict and tensions timeline

[edit] The 1991–1992 South Ossetia War

Main article: 1991–1992 South Ossetia War

Template:Expand section The Ossetian–Georgian tensions escalated into a 1991–1992 war which killed some 3,000 people.

South Ossetia zones of control (according to Georgia)

[edit] The ceasefire

Georgian and Ossetian sides began Russian and OSCE-mediated negotiations on peaceful regulation of the conflict on October 30, 1995. The major break through in negotiation happened in May 1996 when the two sides signed a 'Memorandum on measures for providing security and joint confidence' in which the two sides renounced the use of force. This was followed up by several meetings between then-President of Georgia, Eduard Shevardnadze, and de facto President of South Ossetia Ludwig Chibirov, and their respective heads of governments.

Refugees resettled in the zone of conflict but still only in small numbers, the major obstacle being the economic situation in the region. Numerous small steps of co-operation between Georgians and Ossetians took place.

The absence of central control over the region,^{[citation needed]} the loose authority of the South Ossetian government,^{[citation needed]} and the region’s contiguity to the Russian Federation, through North Ossetia,^{[citation needed]} have made it a haven for organised criminal activity,^{[citation needed]} specifically smuggling.^{[citation needed]} The Ergneti market on the outskirts of Tskhinvali was the main economic black hole^{[citation needed]} into which vast amounts^{[citation needed]} of Russian contraband^{[citation needed]} fuel, cigarettes, alcohol and wheat flour were pouring^{[citation needed]} – robbing Georgia of revenues^{[citation needed]} and propping up^{[citation needed]} the breakaway region. Kidnapping^{[citation needed]}, drugs^{[citation needed]} and weapon business^{[citation needed]} and trafficking^{[citation needed]} are also common^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] The 2004 flare-up

Template:Verify section

Detailed map of South Ossetia showing the secessionist and Georgian-controlled territories.

In May 2004, following the success in another poorly-controlled province of Ajara, President Mikheil Saakashvili’s government turned their attention to South Ossetia. Saakashvili offered humanitarian aid to both the Georgian and Ossetian population and promised to give the region broad autonomy.^[4]

In mid-June, Georgian police shut down the Ergneti market, which was a major trading point for tax-free goods from Russia. They established strong measures to combat smuggling, the mainstay of the local economy.^{[citation needed]}

These Georgian actions made the situation more tense. In retaliation, South Ossetian forces closed the highway between Russia and Georgia for several days. Georgia's regional administration began to restore the roads between Georgian-populated Patara Liakhvi and Didi Liakhvi gorges by-passing separatist-controlled capital Tskhinvali and dispatched military patrols to control them. On July 7, Georgian peacekeepers intercepted a Russian convoy carrying military equipment, including missiles, which led to tensions between Tbilisi and Moscow. The next day, around 50 Georgian peacekeepers were disarmed and detained by the South Ossetian militias. In retaliation, Saakashvili refused to attend peace talks. Large numbers of Georgian and Ossetian forces moved into the border areas, and there was frequent shooting for several days. The Georgian soldiers captured were all released on July 9, with three exceptions.

A Georgian sniper takes aim at Ossetian rebels.

Tensions between Tbilisi and Moscow continued to worsen when the Russian Duma passed a resolution supporting the South Ossetian secessionists. The fellow unrecognized states Abkhazia and Transnistria, Cossack communities of Russia and the North Ossetians promised to support South Ossetia if Georgia attacked. Hundreds of Russian volunteers, mainly Cossacks, arrived in South Ossetia to defend the separatist government.

A ceasefire deal was reached on August 13, after three nights of gun and mortar fire. The agreement was signed by Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and South Ossetian de facto President Eduard Kokoity. However, the agreement was violated shortly after the signing. The bloodiest clashes occurred on August 18 and [[August 19. On August 19, after the overnight fighting with several killed and wounded on the both sides, Georgian forces seized a strategic hill near the Ossetian village of Trianakhana, from which the South Ossetian militias and volunteers were shelling Georgian villages. However, shortly after the successful operation, President Mikheil Saakashvili announced that Georgia will give “a last chance for peace” to the South Ossetians and added that Tbilisi will pullout its non-peacekeeping troops from the conflict zone in exchange of peace. Georgian troops handed over strategic hilltops in the conflict zone to the joint peacekeeping forces late on the same day. As reported, 16 Georgians and dozens of Ossetian and Russian volunteers died during the August fighting.

At a high level meeting between Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity on 5 November in Sochi, Russia, an agreement on demilitarisation of the conflict zone was signed. Some exchange of fire continued in the zone of conflict, apparently primarily initiated by the Ossetian side.^[5]

[edit] New peace efforts

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili presented a new vision for resolving the South Ossetian conflict at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) session in Strasbourg, on January 26, 2005. His proposal included broader forms of autonomy, including a constitutional guarantee of free and directly elected local self-governance. Saakashvili stated that South Ossetia's parliament would have control over issues such as culture, education, social policy, economic policy, public order, organization of local self-governance and environmental protection. At the same time South Ossetia would have a voice in the national structures of government as well, with a constitutional guarantee of representation in the judicial and constitutional-judicial branches and in the Parliament. Georgia would commit to improving the economic and social conditions of South Ossetian inhabitants. Saakashvili proposed a transitional 3-year conflict resolution period, during which time mixed Georgian and Ossetian police forces, under the guidance and auspices of international organizations, would be established and Ossetian forces would gradually be integrated into a united Georgian Armed Forces. Saakashvili also said that the international community should play a more "significant" and "visible" role in solving this conflict.

As hostage incidents, minor skirmishes and organized criminal activities continued to plague the region,^{[citation needed]} Georgia insisted that the Russian-led peacekeeping operation and the format of negotiations had exhausted their potential. They believed the U.S. and the OSCE ought to play a more active role in the resolution of the conflict. Saakashvili's government intensified international efforts on the South Ossetian problem. On October 27, 2005, Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli presented a Georgian action plan at the OSCE Permanent Council at Vienna; the U.S. government and the OSCE expressed their support. On December 6, 2005, the OSCE Ministerial Council in Ljubljana unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the Georgian peace plan for South Ossetia.^[6]

[edit] 2006 attack on a Georgian helicopter

On September 3, 2006, the South Ossetian forces opened fire at a Georgian MI-8 helicopter carrying Defense Minister of Georgia, Irakli Okruashvili, and the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Georgian armed forces, when it flew over the separatist-held territory. Although the South Ossetian authorities reported that the Georgian helicopter was "shot down", it was only slightly damaged and landed safely in Georgian government-controlled territory. Later, the South Ossetian officials confirmed their troops were responsible for the attack, alleging that the helicopter had entered their air space, but rejected the claim that the aircraft was targeted because of prior intelligence that Okruashvili was on board.^[7]

[edit] 2006 October incident

On October 31, 2006, the South Ossetian police reported a skirmish in the Java, Georgia district in which they killed a group of 4 men.^[8][9] The weapons seized from the group included assault rifles, guns, grenade launchers, grenades and explosive devices. Other items found in the militants' possession included extremist Islamic literature, maps of Java district and sets of Russian peacekeeping uniforms. Those findings led the South Ossetian authorities to conclude that the militants were planning to carry out acts of sabotage, thus raising tensions ahead of the independence referendum scheduled for November 12, 2006. The South Ossetian authorities identified the men as Kist Chechens, many of whom live in Georgia's Pankisi Gorge. South Ossetia has accused Georgia of hiring the Chechen mercenaries to carry out terrorist attacks in the region. Russia has previously accused Georgia of harbouring Chechen separatists in the gorge.^{[citation needed]}

The Georgian side flatly denied its involvement in the incident. Shota Khizanishvilia, a spokesperson for the Georgian Interior Ministry, supposed that the incident could be connected to "internal conflicts in South Ossetia".^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Rival elections of 2006

Template:Verify section On November 12, 2006, two rival elections and simultaneous referendums were held in South Ossetia. The separatist-controlled part of the region reelected Eduard Kokoity as de facto president and voted for independence from Georgia. In the areas under Georgia's control, the Ossetian opposition, with unofficial backing from Tbilisi, organized rival polls electing Dmitry Sanakoyev, the former premier in the secessionist government, as an "alternative president" and voted for negotiations with Georgia on a future federal agreement. Both Tskhinvali and Moscow denounced the move as Georgia's attempt to install "a puppet government" in the conflict zone. The alternative government quickly organized a civic movement involving both Georgians and Ossetians (including the Ossetian NGOs active in Tbilisi and elsewhere in Georgia), with the declared aim of restoring peace in the region and reintegrating South Ossetia into Georgia on the basis of broad autonomy.

[edit] Georgia's new initiative

On May 10, 2007, Dmitry Sanakoyev was appointed as Head of the South Ossetian Provisional Administrative Entity by the President of Georgia. The next day, Sanakoyev addressed the Parliament of Georgia in Ossetic, outlining his vision of the conflict resolution plan (full text).^[10] This move earned approval from the United States State Department,^{[citation needed]} but alarmed the de facto authorities in Tskhinvali.^{[citation needed]} The South Ossetian separatists ordered that traffic to ethnic Georgian villages be blocked, and threatened to oust Sanakoyev’s government by force.^{[citation needed]} However, this met with Russia's disapproval.Template:Clarify-inline^[11]

On July 24, 2007, Tbilisi held its first state commission to define South Ossetia's status within the Georgian state. Chaired by Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli, the commission included ruling National Movement Party lawmakers, an opposition party member, civil society advocates, Dmitry Sanakoyev, and representatives of the Ossetian community in Georgia. Georgian officials announced that they would welcome the involvement of Kokoity's envoys, but the Tskhinvali government refused to participate. In response, Sanakoyev's supporters launched a campaign "Kokoity Fanderast" or "Kokoity Farewell" in Ossetian.

In August 2007, the Georgian government and the provisional administration initiated a major plan to rehabilitate the conflict zone: throughout Georgian-controlled areas of South Ossetia, they resurfaced roads, and began constructing a cinema, discotheque, electronics store, 25-bed hospital, secondary school, sports center, bank, children’s amusement park, swimming pool, two gas stations, and gas and water lines.Template:Update-inline^[12]

[edit] Tsitelubani missile incident 2007

Main article: 2007 Georgia missile incident

On August 7, 2007, a missile landed, but did not explode, in the Georgian-controlled village of Tsitelubani, some 65 km north of Tbilisi. Georgian officials said that two Russian fighter jets violated its airspace and fired a missile, targeting a nearby Georgian radar outpost.^[13] Russian and South Ossetian authorities accused Georgia of staging a false flag operation in order to provoke tension in the region. Two investigative groups from NATO countries reported that the jet entered Georgian airspace from Russia, but Russian officials rejected this conclusion, citing their own investigation.^[14]

[edit] 2008 clashes

Men from the 113th elite bataillon from the Georgian army are charging up a hill where Ossetian rebels are entrenched. They are shooting from their positions on top on that hill.

On the night of June 14 into the early morning of June 15, 2008, mortar fire and an exchange of gunfire were reported between South Ossetian and Georgian forces. South Ossetia reported that mortar fire was launched from Georgian-controlled villages on Tshinkvali, the South Ossetian capital, and that their forces came under fire from Georgian forces on the outskirts of the capital. Georgia denies firing the first shot claiming instead that South Ossetia had attacked the Georgian-controlled villages.^[15] Russian, Georgian, and North Ossetia peacekeepers as well as OSCE monitors went to the site of the clashes, but it was not determined who fired the first shot. One person was killed and four wounded during the violence.^[16]

A South Ossetian police official was killed in a bomb attack on July 3, 2008 and this was followed by an intense exchange of gun fire. Later a convoy carrying the leader of the Tbilisi-backed South Ossetian provisional administration, Dimitri Sanakoev, was attacked and three of his security guards injured. On July 4, 2008 two people were killed as a result of shelling and shooting in Tskhinvali and some villages in South Ossetia. The South Ossetian Press and Information Committee reported that a South Ossetian militiaman had been killed and another injured in an attack on a police post in the village of Ubia and this was followed by the shelling of Tskhinvali, which resulted in the death of one man. The shelling reportedly involved the use of mortars and grenade launchers. Georgia claimed it had opened fire in response to the shelling by South Ossetian militiamen of Georgian-controlled villages.^[17] South Ossetia called up military reservists and put its security forces on alert in response to the clashes. The head of Russia's peacekeeping troops in the region was quoted as saying extra soldiers could be deployed if the stand-off worsened.^[18] South Ossetia warned it would move heavy weaponry into the conflict zone with Georgia if attacks on the republic were not stopped. ^[19]

The Georgian Ministry of Defense said on July 7, 2008 a group of up to ten militiamen were apparently prevented from placing mines on a Georgian-controlled by-pass road linking the Georgian villages in the north of Tskhinvali with the rest of Georgia. The Georgian side opened fire and the group was forced to retreat towards the nearby South Ossetian-controlled village. On July 8, 2008 South Ossetia reported that it had detained four “officers from the artillery brigade of the Georgian Ministry of Defense” close to the village of Okona in the Znauri district at the administrative border the night before.^[20] Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili told police to prepare an operation to free the four soldiers, but they were released before an operation was launched.^[21]

Russian military jets flew into Georgian airspace through South Ossetia on July 9, 2008 and then returned to Russia. The next day, the Russian authorities confirmed the flight and said, in an official statement, that the fighters were sent to prevent Georgia from launching an operation to free the four soldiers detained by South Ossetia.^[22] In response, Georgia recalled its ambassador to Moscow "for consultations", stating that it was "outraged by Russia's agressive policies."^[23]

The incident coincided with the visit of the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Tbilisi where she pledged the U.S. support for Georgia's bid to join NATO. She said that granting NATO Membership Action Plan to Georgia would help resolve the Abkhaz and South Ossetian problems. The statement caused a negative outcry in Moscow: the Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov responded, during his meeting with the de facto Abkhaz president Sergey Bagapsh, that Georgia’s NATO integration process "may undermine the conflict resolution" process.^[24] On July 11, 2008, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting on the conflict zones.^[25]

A South Ossetian envoy on July 11, 2008 declared that South Ossetia was capable of repelling any attack by Georgia without help from Moscow and also said the mainly Russian peacekeeping contingent in the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone should be increased.^[26] The Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement the same day that measures have been taken “to increase combat readiness” of the Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in Abkhazia. It also said that security had been tightened at the Russian peacekeepers’ base camps, observation posts and checkpoints, and “additional training” of the peacekeeping personnel had been conducted “to explain regulations of use of firearm while on duty.”^[27] Nika Rurua, Deputy Head of the Parliament’s Security and Defense Committee, warned that Georgia would shoot down Russia’s military aircraft in case they appear in its airspace again and an initiative was considered to this effect, but decided instead to appeal to the world community on the matter. Media reports published information about Russia’s alleged plans to seize the Kodori Gorge specifying that the details of the operation were worked out by Russian high-ranking military officials, with Abkhazia’s President Sergey Bagapsh. Russia is reportedly planning to respond by revealing the details of a planned military invasion of South Ossetia by Georgia to release their detained officers.^[28]

On July 14, 2008 Georgia's deputy defense minister Batu Kutelia said Georgia plans to expand its military more than 15 percent to 37,000 soldiers following events in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The additional manpower would be used to defend Georgia's airspace and the Black Sea coast.^[29] On July 15, 2008 the U.S. and Russia both began exercises in the Caucasus though Russia denies the timing was intentional.^[30] The Russian exercises included training to support peacekeepers in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia claimed the exercises were a manifestation of Russian aggression against it.^[31] Also on July 15, Abkhazia and South Ossetia were said to be planning to join the Union of Russia and Belarus, a spokesman for the Union said both regions have talked about joining the Union, but that they would need to be recognized as independent and become observers before they could join the Union as members.^[32][33] Georgia said on July 16, 2008 that if Russia did not accept a German plan for resolving the conflict Georgia would be forced to "unilaterally bring an influence to bear on the deployment of armed forces in Abkhazia."^[34]

According to media reports, on July 19, 2008 a Georgian police post was attacked by Abkhaz militias using grenades, one of the militiamen died from a grenade exploding accidentally. Abkhaz officials condemned the reports as false.^[35] Georgian media also reported on July 19 that a battalion of Russian troops had moved into the lower Kodori Gorge.^[36] Georgia's Defense Ministry claimed Russian troops encroached on Mamison and Roksky passes in Abkhazia and South Ossetia respectively and are in combat alert. Abkhazia's Foreign Minister said no new troops were brought in over the quota.^[37]

A U.N. report issued July 23, 2008 on the period between April and July 2008 noted discrepancies with the Georgian attack of a shooting in Khurcha on the day of Georgian elections. In particular the report noted the way the incident was filmed suggested the attack was anticipated. The report said reconnaissance flights by Georgia were a violation of the ceasefire, but said the shooting down of those fights also constituted a breach of the ceasefire. Concerning a military buildup by Georgia the UN report said it found no evidence of a buildup but noted observers were denied access to certain areas of Abkhazia controlled by Georgia including the Kvabchara Valley.^[38]

On July 28 , 2008 a spokesman for the Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia said South Ossetian forces had blocked peacekeepers and OSCE observers from the village of Cholibauri which is close to where Georgia says South Ossetia is building fortifications.^[39] On July 29, 2008 South Ossetia said two South Ossetian villages had been fired on by Georgian forces in response to South Ossetia reinforcing its positions on the perimeter of the conflict zone.^[40] Georgia said the same day that Georgian posts on the Sarabuki heights were attacked by South Ossetian forces with no injuries reported.^[39]

[edit] August 2008 flare-up in violence

Main article: War in South Ossetia (2008)

Six Ossetians were reportedly killed and 21 injured as a result of one of an intensive shootout in the South Ossetian conflict zone, late on August 1 and overnight on August 2. Both sides have blamed each other for opening fire first.^[41]

Sporadic fighting countinued every day and on August 6, there were further shootouts and Georgia acknowledged it had lost an APC during the clashes.^[42] After a night of gunfire in which four people died, shelling resumed at daybreak on August 7. Residents were on the move, evacuating vulnerable areas of the South Ossetian capital.^[43] Georgia was reportedly moving tanks, artillery and troops to the border with South Ossetia.^[44]

However, at the end of the day, Mikhail Saakashvili ordered an unilateral cease-fire. “A sniper war is ongoing against residents of the villages [in the South Ossetian conflict zone] and as I speak now intensive fire is ongoing from artillery, from tanks, from self-propelled artillery systems – which have been brought in the conflict zone illegally – and from other types of weaponry, including from mortars and grenade launchers,” Saakashvili said in a live televised address made at 7:10pm local time on August 7.^[45]

The ceasefire was broken hours later. Georgia said Separatist forces had been attacking Georgian villages despite of the ceasefire announcement, with several casualties reported. Thus it was beginning an operation to "restore constitutional order in the whole region."^[46]

Georgia started a full-scale attack on the breakaway republic overnight, using tanks, aircraft, heavy artillery and infantry.^[47]

Georgian military attacked a Russian base in Tshinval with artillery and missiles on August 8.^{[citation needed]} Several Russian soldiers were reported dead or wounded.^[48] Georgia argued that the Russian peacekeepers were not a neutral force, supporting this with claims that 60% of South Ossetian funding comes from Moscow.^{[citation needed]}

Georgian military forces attacked suddenly with the strong support of the heavy artillery (122mm and 152mm), tanks and aircrafts. Within the first 2 hours main Ossetian bunkers were completly destroyed. Most of Tshinval (the main strategic point) communications and facilities were also heavy damaged. Central hospital, University and some schools were also among them. After the third artillery wave, two Georgian heavy tanks regiments begun their attack in converging directions around Tshinval and almost complete planned encirclement. It was only Russian peacemakers who could withstood upon Georgian main attack forces and saved several bunkers. There were several testimonies, as reported by the Russian side, that Georgian soldiers finished off some peacemakers and civilians that were unconscious or injured during Georgia artillery firing.

As a respond for unexpected attack on the peacemakers (which costs 15 killed and 150 injured) Russia engaged a part of 58th Army (150 tanks) into Ossetia and forced Georgian attack battalions to withdraw into their initial positions.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Notes

[edit] See also

• Ossetian-Ingush conflict
• Georgian Civil War
• Politics of Georgia

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Georgia-Ossetian conflict

• http://www.caucasus.dk/chapter4.htm
• http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav110404.shtml
• http://www.mfa.gov.ge/news.php?newsid=updates/EEpFVVEZEEGOWuWwJQ.php
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/3797729.stm
• President Saakashvili’s Proposals