Environmental consequences of the conflict

Military operations that took place in Georgia during the past two weeks directly and/or indirectly have affected the six countries of the Caucasus region as well as the courtiers of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea basins. The consequences of the armed conflict have to be evaluated after returning of Russian military troops to the positions as of August 6, 2008.

Assessment of the impact of the given armed conflict on the environment and consequently on the social and economic spheres goes far beyond simple calculation of hectares of burnt forests or the level of pollution of the Black Sea and transboundary rivers of the Caucasus.

Assessment of the impact of the conflict on the environment and perspectives of sustainable development can be grouped according to existing risk factors, expected/potential risk factors (since although so-called cease-fire agreement has been signed the military forces have not yet returned to the pre-conflict positions), and thematic risk factors:

1. Loss of biodiversity, habitats, landscapes and forests


• Military operations in South Ossetia, Kodori, etc.;


• Aviation raids into the Oni district, Kodori, South Ossetia, city of Poti located in immediate proximity to the Kolkheti National Park;


• Use of heavy weaponry in South Ossetia, Kodori and on the 1/3 of the Georgian territory, including the Kolkheti National Park famous for its wetland ecosystems;


• Bombing of the forest massifs of the Borjomi gorge including Pan-European Park of Borjomi-Kharagauli with flammable substances and destruction of 230 ha of unique centuries old forest cover and its ecosystem took place after cessation of military operations at a distance of 100 km from the conflict zone;


• Bombing of the forest massifs of the Ateni gorge rich in cultural heritage with flammable substances. The state of the cultural heritage of Georgia is not yet known.


2. Threat to agriculture includes:


• Interruption of the cycle of agricultural activities and burn out of agricultural lands. According to preliminary information, as a result of military operations the number of IDPs reached about 200,000, the majority of which were residents of rural areas of South Ossetia and Shida Kartli. Thus, the cycle of agricultural activities has been violently interrupted on about 40% of the territory of Georgia. The period needed for restoration of the given cycle is not clear yet, since mane villages are burnt out. Therefore, in the long run this risk factor will affect the state of cultivated cultural landscapes and their productivity;


• Pollution of soil and irrigation water resources with fuels, military waste generated as a result of military operations, massive destruction of military ammunition will also affect agriculture.


3. Damage of infrastructure includes:


• Damage and destruction of water supply systems as a result of aviation attacks, military operations, etc. in South Ossetia, Shida Kartli, Kodori, city of Poti, etc. unavoidable will cause pollution of drinking water which consequently will affect agriculture and human health;


• Damage and/or deliberate destruction of railroads, bridges on main motor roads of the Caucasus, pipelines, road infrastructure, ports (Poti), aerodromes, factories (for example: concrete factory in Kaspi), etc. Along with the blow on the economy of the whole Caucasus region, such actions cause pollution of rivers the majority of which belong to transboundary watersheds, as well as pollution of marine environment, soils and underground waters, complicate distribution of humanitarian aid to affected people thus aggravating the humanitarian catastrophe. Since operation of main oil and gas pipelines was suspended major regional environmental disasters as a result of aviation attacks has been avoided.


4. Pollution of marine environment:


• Explosion of vessels within the area of water of city of Poti will cause pollution of marine environment of the Black Sea as a result of oil spills and disposal of military waste in the water area of the city.


5. Pollution of soil and destruction of topsoil:


• About 40% of the territory of Georgia is under this risk factor as a result of improper disposal of military waste, destruction (explosion) of military ammunition, use of heavy weaponry, military operations, etc.


6. Threat to human health and outbreak of epidemics:


• In the context of the environment the human health can be affected by any of the listed risk factors, however the damage of water supply and sewerage systems, i.e. deterioration of sanitary conditions can be classified as the main risk factor.


7. Use of land mines:


• Considering the level of preparation of the sides of armed conflict and the previous experience of withdrawal of Russian military troops from Georgia it can be hardly predicted which territory and what facilities will be mined. Therefore the damage caused by such actions to infrastructure, human health and the environment can not be determined in advance.


8. Humanitarian catastrophe:


• Humanitarian catastrophe taking place within and outside the conflict area is a result of the aggregate of all the above listed. Humanitarian catastrophe aggravates each of risk factors and can not be resolved only through satisfaction of basic needs of thousands of IDPs in food, shelter and clothes;


and finally,


9. Deterioration of the order of regional concepts of spatial development as a basis for economic and social development and human well-being in the region.

Assessment of the environmental damage and impact on perspectives of sustainable development shall be and may be done only after returning of military forces to pre-conflict positions. As for long-term impacts of the mentioned risk factors, they can be assessed only in a perspective. All risk factors are interlinked between each other and a factor having the strongest impact on others can be hardly identified – these are usual consequences of military operations.

Environment Devastated by Russian Military Attacks

In addition to killing civilians, attacking and destroying both military and civilian infrastructures, the Russian military caused an ecological disaster in Georgia. According to the official as well as various international information sources and eyewitness reports, the Russian military attacks caused substantial negative impact on natural ecosystems of Georgia.

Although being far from conflict zones, three Protected Areas of Georgia are affected by military operations. These protected areas are: mountain forests of Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park (IUCN category 2) Terrestrial and marine parts of Kolkheti National Park (IUCN category 2) and riparian forests of Liakhvi Nature Reserve (IUCN category 1). Particularly high level damage is observed in the forests of the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park and adjacent areas.

Forest fires:

Russia military bombing of Borjomi Forests and Borjomi-Kharagauli National park

On August 15, at approximately 15:30 local time, Russian military helicopters started bombing the bordering territories of the City of Borjomi and settlement of Tsemi using incendiary munitions - weapon prohibited by the international convention. The broad areas of precious forest have been set on fire and fifteen seats of fire have been broken out in southern part Georgia.

The Borjomi forests are located in a mountainous central part of Georgia that are internationally recognized as having great significance to the global biodiversity. The area has one of the most popular spa and ski resorts and is famous for its mineral waters. But most importantly, the site is located at least 100 km away from the South Ossetia conflict zone.

On August 18, the BTC pipeline patrol again detected breaking out fire soon after the Russian helicopters flew over the Borjomi Gorge. The fire became stronger and spread as the Russian military forces occupied large part of the country, including major highways and hindered transportation of Georgian fire brigades. In response to the Georgian Government's appeal for assistance to neighboring countries, Turkey and Ukraine expressed their readiness to provide help, however as of August 19, have not been given safe, timely and adequate corridor by the Russian military forces.

The Borjomi-Kharagauli National park is the first national park in the Caucasus established according to IUCN criteria by WWF. In the core zone of the national park, the protection regime exists more than hundred years. The park includes pristine forests, sub-alpine meadows and represents habitat for many endemic, rare and relict species; it is the largest area of endemic oriental spruce.

Due to the forest fires, biodiversity of the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park has been seriously damaged and adjacent settlements and tourist resorts, as well as to the BTC oil pipeline and the South Caucasus gas pipeline are put at danger.

At present, according to preliminary estimations, around 350 ha of precious forest are burnt down in the Borjomi Gorge. The fire is still continuing.

Setting the fire in the national park and then creation of obstacles to extinguish the fire confirms that the Russian military intervention went beyond the local military operation and aimed at causing maximum damage to the population, economy and the nature. It is also important to note that fire bombs attack in Borjomi took place just after the President Medvedev signed the ceasefire agreement.

Black Sea:

Ecological Catastrophe caused by the oil spills by the Russian occupational forces in the Georgian coastal zone of the Black Sea

In addition, the Russian military attacks in western Georgia, i.e. blasting and sinking of Georgian vessels by the Russian forces in the Georgian Poti port, caused spilling of large amount of hydrocarbon (diesel and benzin) as well as hydraulic oil from the vessels.

Occupational forces did not allow the national environmental organizations to assess the situation on-site and determine quantity of oil spilled in the sea. According to the experts’ judgment, some 50-70 tons of oil were spilled in the Black Sea. Spilling of such large quantity of oil is unprecedented in the Georgia’s coastal zone of the Black Sea.

The port authorities and relevant institutions were not allowed by the Russian military forces to employ skimmer and containment booms, which made impossible to respond adequately to the spill and hindered minimizing damage on the environment.

The Black Sea current moved the spilled oil to the north of the city of Poti to the direction of the Kolkheti National Park and its protected sea zone. The Kolkheti National Park located 5 km north from the oil spill site is distinguished for its unique biodiversity and is a part of internationally recognized Ramsar protected sites

Since the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Georgia and environmental organizations are not allowed to work on site (to go to the sea), it is rather difficult to indicate exact qualitative and quantitative parameters of environmental damage. However, considering the scale of oil spills, it is already possible to state that protected sea zone of the Kolkheti National Park and its surroundings are under ecological catastrophe, which could have serious negative impact on the whole Black Sea ecosystem.

Legal violations concerning Ecological Disaster caused by Russian attacks

By employing methods or means of warfare which are intended, or may be expected, to cause widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment, the Russian Federation violated international obligations it has undertaken. Russia is a party to the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the two 1977 Additional Protocols of the Conventions. Paragraph 18 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions (ratified by Russia 10-05-1954) stipulates the following:

All armed forces, whether regular or irregular, should continue to observe the principles and rules of international environmental and humanitarian law to which the parties to the conflict are bound in times of peace. Natural and cultural resources shall not be pillaged under any circumstances.

In Additional Protocol I (ratified by Russia on 29-09-1989), Article 35 - Basic Rules - states:

It is prohibited to employ methods or means of warfare which are intended, or may be expected, to cause widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment.

Also in Additional Protocol I, Article 55 - Protection of the Natural Environment - states:

1. Care shall be taken in warfare to protect the natural environment against widespread, long-term and severe damage. This protection includes a prohibition of the use of methods or means of warfare which are intended or may be expected to cause such damage to the natural environment and thereby to prejudice the health or survival of the population.


2. Attacks against the natural environment by way of reprisals are prohibited

With specific relevance to the Borjomi operation, Russia is also a party to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, Protocol III, Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons (Geneva, 1980) which states (among other things):

It is prohibited to make forests or other kinds of plant cover the object of attack by incendiary weapons except when such natural elements are used to cover, conceal or camouflage combatants or other military objectives, or are themselves military objectives.

As well, the Statute of the International Criminal Court, established by the 1998 Rome Statute, which entered into force on July 1, 2002, stipulates in Article 8(2)(b)(iv) that the following act may constitute a war crime:

Intentionally launching an attack in the knowledge that such an attack will cause incidental loss of life or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects or widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment which would be clearly excessive in relation to the concrete and direct overall military advantage anticipated.

And although Russia is not an official party to it, the Rome Statute and International Criminal Court is presumed to represent customary international law and to be respected as binding by all states. Under Article 8, individuals, including heads of state, can be held criminally accountable if an attack is intentional; inflicts widespread; long-term and severe environmental damage; and the attacker knew the damage would be excessive. This applies to individuals that commit, order, or aid in the commission of such attacks.

Other rules of customary international law that prohibit damage to the environment in warfare and are binding on all states (Bronkhorst and Koppe, 2007), include:

Firstly, a duty of care or an obligation to show due regard for the environment during international armed conflict; secondly, a prohibition to cause wanton destruction to the environment during international armed conflict; and thirdly, a prohibition to cause excessive collateral damage to the environment during international armed conflict.

Even in self-defense, states are prohibited from engaging in military operations that are either unnecessary or disproportionate.

Thus, if the reports of use of incendiary devices by the Russian military in the Borjomi region are accurate, then it is likely that Russia has violated the above provisions of international law. Such malicious behavior - intentionally inflicting significant and unnecessary environmental harm as a weapon of war - has no place in modern warfare, and cannot stand uncontested by the international community.

The consequences for an international wrongful act as stipulated in the Draft Articles on the Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts, adopted by the International Law Commission November 2001 (discussed in Bronkhorst and Koppe, 2007) include:

The obligation to offer assurances and guarantees of non-repetition, the obligation to make full reparation for the injury caused by the internationally wrongful act, either by means of restitution, i.e. to re-establish the situation which existed before the wrongful act was committed, or by means of compensation insofar as such damage is not made good by restitution.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, and national and international environmental organizations call upon the International Community to resolutely condemn Russian actions on Georgian soil and judge the relevancy of membership of the Russian Federation to such international environmental treaties as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention of Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution, Ramsar Convention, CITES and others.

Moscow through military aggression has invaded parts of the Georgian territory

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and restoration of Georgia’s independence, the Russian Federation has been pursuing the targeted policy aimed at fragmentation of the Georgian State and infringement of its sovereignty. To achieve this goal Moscow through military aggression has invaded parts of the Georgian territory conducting total ethnic cleansing on the occupied areas.

This is a follow-up to the policy the Russian State has been pursuing for many years through its client separatist regimes on the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Obviously, the Russian Federation uses ethnic cleansing as an instrument of its policy aimed at emptying the occupied territories of ethnic Georgians, in order to claim then that the population of these regions object to living within the state of Georgia.

It is an extremely cynical attempt to justify steps taken to infringe Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Russian president’s statement of 26 August 2008 came as a culmination of these acts.

On 26 August 2008, the president of Russia D. Medvedev made a statement on the recognition of independence of the so-called republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia created on the territories occupied by Russia.

By recognising independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the Russian Federation violated the principles of the equal rights and self-determination of peoples, non-interference in internal affairs of another state and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act (1975), which constitute fundamental principles of international law.

In attempt to justify its own actions by deliberately misinterpreting the fundamental norms and principles of international law, the Russian Federation gravely violates the basics of the contemporary international system.

By recognising Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the Russian authorities not only undermine the principles of international law but also pose a real threat to the new world order established as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is an attempt to unilaterally alter the borders of a sovereign State with use of military force and reestablish the spheres of influence and dividing lines in Europe that would put a stop to democratic development and usher in an era of totalitarian rule through the same means that were employed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

In legal terms, the right of peoples to self-determination means that this process should proceed within democratic frames. The will once expressed freely may only be superseded by an analogous decision made under no duress or interference by the external forces.

In the process of gaining independence from the colonial regime of the Soviet Union, all ethnic groups of the Georgian population which took part in the referendum of 31 March 1991 voted in favour of ‘restoration of Georgia’s independence on the basis of the 26 May 1918 Independence Act’, which, inter alia, represents a freely expressed will of the population to live in an independent state within the borders as defined in 1918-1921. The international community confirmed the democratic character of the referendum by recognising Georgia’s independence. The referendum involved over 90.79 % of the population, of which 99.8% voted in favour of Georgia’s independence, which means that the population of Georgia implemented the right of peoples to self-determination upheld by the UN Charter, UN General Assembly Declaration on Principles of International Law (1970) and the Helsinki Final Act (1975).

Therefore, all claims of the Russian Federation that Georgia’s international legal status was defined in disregard for the will of the Abkhaz and Ossetian peoples are absolutely groundless. The 1991 referendum was held throughout the entire territory of Georgia, including Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which implies that the aforesaid national minorities were also involved in this process. Recognising the right of the Abkhaz and Ossetian peoples to self-determination, Georgia emphasises the imperativeness of placing this process within a democratic framework and the necessity of upholding the fundamental principles of the contemporary international system: respect for the territorial integrity of sovereign states and inviolability of frontiers.

The realisation of the right of peoples to self-determination by violating the principle of territorial integrity puts in jeopardy the peace and security of not only Georgia, but the international community as a whole.

A special mention should also be made of a great number of judgments of the International Court of Justice, which give recognition to the right of peoples to self-determination providing that the territorial integrity of a state concerned and inviolability of its frontiers are respected.

While considering the right to self-determination, the UN Human Rights Committee also emphasises the internal nature of this right.

The referendas in Abkhazia and South Ossetia referred to by the president of Russia as the basis of his decision were declared as illegitimate by the international community for they were held in violation of all basic principles of international law. The destiny of a concrete territory can be only decided by its indigenous population. And the indigenous population of the autonomous republic of Abkhazia is not made up of only those people who survived the ethnic cleansing and remained to live on the territory of Abkhazia, Georgia, but also of all internally displaced persons and refugees who became targets of ethnic persecution. The ethnic cleansing mentioned above was recognised by the OSCE Summits in 1994, 1996 and 1998 and the UN General Assembly’s Resolution of 15 May 2008.

The referendum indicated by the Russian Federation involved only a certain part of the indigenous population of Abkhazia, Georgia, who were exposed to obvious interference from the external forces, the Russian Federation in particular. By this time estimated 2/3 of the indigenous population had been expelled from the territory of Abkhazia, Georgia.

The results of the plebiscite held on 28 November 1996 indicate that an absolute majority (99%) of internally displaced persons from Abkhazia unanimously support the definition of the status of this territory only after the restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity.

Also groundless is the reference in the Russian President’s statement to Declaration on Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation Among States in Accordance with the Charter of the United Nations (UN General Assembly Resolution 2625 (XXV) 24 October 1970). The Declaration’s formulation of the principle of the equal rights and self-determination of peoples makes clear its specific implications: ‘to bring a speedy end to colonialism, having due regard to the freely expressed will of the peoples concerned’. This provision carried a particularly meaningful focus in the period following the collapse of the Soviet Union, but after a span of 17 years, with the former Soviet republics already subjects of international law and the epoch of colonialism well sunk into oblivion, it should have long exhausted its topical meaning. With respect to the aforesaid Principle, the Declaration gives a clear explanation that ‘Nothing in the foregoing paragraphs shall be construed as authorising or encouraging any action which would dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States conducting themselves in compliance with the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples”. Moreover, the last paragraph of the same Principle: ‘Every State shall refrain from any action aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and territorial integrity of any other State or country’ contains a direct prohibition for the states against actions that the Russian Federation has been carrying out systematically.

The territorial integrity of Georgia has been recognised by the world community, including the Russian Federation. Georgia’s territorial integrity and inviolability of frontiers have also been upheld in all respective documents adopted by various international multilateral forums. Georgia defined its state borders in full compliance with all principles of international law, on the basis of the 1921 Constitution of Georgia and the principle of uti possidetis stipulating that administrative borders of the Georgian SSR be recognised as state borders of Georgia until their final detailed delimitation, including the territories of the autonomous republic of Abkhazia and the autonomous region of South Ossetia.

The actions of the Russian Federation also contradict the UN Security Council’s resolutions recognising the territorial integrity of Georgia and adopted with the participation ofthe Russian Federation: 876 (1993), 881 (1993), 892 (1993), 896 (1994), 906 (1994), 937 (1994), 971 (1995), 993 (1995), 1036 (1996), 1065 (1996), 1096 (1997), 1124 (1997), 1150 (1998), 1187 (1998), 1225 (1999), 1255 (1999), 1287 (2000), 1311 (2000), 1339 (2001), 1364 (2001), 1393 (2002), 1427 (2002), 1462 (2003), 1494 (2003), 1524 (2004), 1554 (2004), 1582 (2005), 1615 (2005), 1666 (2006), 1752 (2007), 1781 (2007), 1808 (2008).

In accordance with Article 25 of the UN Charter, resolutions of the Security Council are binding on all members of the United Nations. Any such resolution may be overruled by a next resolution adopted by the Security Council. Hence, no state is authorised to adopt unilaterally any decision contradicting the Security Council’s resolution, or to discuss in other multilateral format any issue within the Security Council’s competence without previous authorisation of the Security Council.

Due consideration should also be given to Resolution N62/249 (15 May 2008) of the UN General Assembly unambiguously recognising Abkhazia as an integral part of Georgia.

Russia claims that a state should be ruled by a government that represents all its population. There arises a rhetorical question: does it also hold true about the separatist authorities of Abkhazia and South Ossetia? Given that a vast majority of the indigenous population of these regions numbering over half a million could not take part in the election of the so-called ‘democratic government’ due to their forced expulsion from the original places of residence as a result of the ethnic cleansing conducted by the Russian Authorities.

It is cynical of Russia having violated the fundamental principle of the UN Charter on the non-use of force to accuse Georgia of the actions perpetrated by Russia itself.

Based on the foregoing, there is hardly any norm to be found in the entire international law system, which, in case of its due interpretation, would bring into legal frames the decision of Russia on the recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

For the time being the ethnic cleansing of Georgians on the Russian occupied territories, both in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and beyond is still under way. Moreover, after the Russian President’s recognition of independence of the separatist regions, the ethnic cleansing of the Georgian population has become even more intense. It provides yet another proof that persecution of ethnic Georgians on the occupied territories is a deliberate policy aimed at achieving political goals rather than being isolated cases of violence.

Through military aggression against and occupation of Georgia and by unilateral recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the Russian Federation has shown to the international community that it does not refrain from violation of the fundamental principles of international law and illegal and indiscriminate use of force against its neighbouring sovereign state.

Russia’s aggressive acts threaten not only Georgia’s statehood but the modern world order as well since they aim at reinstating Cold War realities and run counter to the historical process of international community development based on democracy, equality and supremacy of international law. It is a highly regrettable that the UN Security Council’s permanent member is in deliberate violation of the fundamental principles, without strict adherence to which a peaceful and fair international order becomes a hardly conceivable prospect.

Timeline for 27th August

27 AUGUST

18:35 Remaining 85 Georgian civilian hostages held by Ossetian forces have been released from Tskhinvali.

07:00 The US Coast Guard battleship “Dallas”, loaded with humanitarian aid, enters Batumi port.

Timeline for 26th August

26 AUGUST

19:00 Statement of the President of Georgia in response to Russia’s decision regarding the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia

16:00 Protest rallies continue
Local residents hold protest rally at the Russian check-point in village Teklati, near Senaki

14:30 Russia recognizes independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
• Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announces recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Russia.

10:00 Ossetians force Georgians leave their villages
• Residents of villages Karaleti, Meghvrekisi, Tkviavi north of Gori, near Tskhinvali, arrive to Gori. According to them, Ossetian paramilitaries were assaulting and looting them every day. Their houses were burnt, some of them killed while others were forced to flee.

Timeline for 25th August

The information below is accurate to the best of our knowledge, but is subject to verification.

25 AUGUST

Russian soldiers seize products from “Nikora” grocery shop in Poti

At night Russian militaries entered ‘Nikora’ grocery shop located near their illegal block-post by a heavy armored vehicle, forced the security to open the store house and took away ‘Nikora’s’ ready products. The occupants were reported drunk.

15:00 Russian military and Ossetian separatist forces remain in Akhalgori. As reported from local population South Ossetian separatists and Russian troops continue lootings.

12:30 – Lower House of the Russian Parliament - State Duma recommends President Medvedev to recognize independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

11:15 Georgian and Russian sides exchange imprisoned persons with facilitation of Council of Europe High Commissioner for Human Rights in village Karaleti. Russian side released 7 prisoners. Georgia handed 6 persons to Russian side.

10:40 – Upper House of the Russian Parliament - Council of the Federation recommends President Medvedev to recognize independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

10:00 Russian soldiers with two armored vehicles enter the territory of Coast Guard infrastructure in Poti Port. They steal office equipment and air conditioners.

Timeline for 26th August

The information below is accurate to the best of our knowledge, but is subject to verification.

26 AUGUST

19:00 Statement of the President of Georgia in response to Russia’s decision regarding the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia

16:00 Protest rallies continue
Local residents hold protest rally at the Russian check-point in village Teklati, near Senaki

14:30 Russia recognizes independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
• Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announces recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Russia.

10:00 Ossetians force Georgians leave their villages
• Residents of villages Karaleti, Meghvrekisi, Tkviavi north of Gori, near Tskhinvali, arrive to Gori. According to them, Ossetian paramilitaries were assaulting and looting them every day. Their houses were burnt, some of them killed while others were forced to flee.

Russian Attack: Summary

Altogether, Georgia’s sovereign territory was subjected to aerial bombardment 42 times. The areas bombed far exceeded the putative conflict zone of South Ossetia.

The bombs and missiles were delivered during up to 158 illegal incursions into Georgia’s airspace, of which 96 are fully confirmed.

At least 165 bombs and missiles were used, including cluster bombs and other weapons banned by international agreements. At least three of the attacks directly targeted civilians in civilian areas.

Bombing runs before ceasefire

The list below indicates the areas bombed, the minimum number of times each was bombed, their distance from the conflict zone and/or Tbilisi, and the date(s) of the attack(s).

Target	# times bombed	Distance	Date
Shavshvebi village	1	30 km	08.08.08
Variani village	1	20 km, 75 km from Tbilisi	08.08.08
Gori	5	17 km	08-10.08.08
Vaziani Airfield	2	2-3 km from Tbilisi	08-09.08.08
Marneuli	3	20 km from Tbilisi	08.08.08
Bolnisi	1	35 km from Tbilisi	08.08.08
Senaki	1	213 km from Tbilisi	09.08.08
Oni	1		09.08.08
Village Urta	1	330 km from Tbilisi	10.08.08
Tbilisi Airplane Factory	2	Tbilisi	09-10.08.08
Knolevi (Kareli district)	1		10.08.08
Urta (Zugdidi district)	1		10.08.08

In Upper Abkhazia, the Russian air force bombed villages and positions at least 4 times. The gorge was invaded by airborne Abkhaz and Russian troops on 10 August.

Bombing runs after Georgian ceasefire offer

At 17:30 on 10 August, the Georgian Foreign Ministry hands a diplomatic note offering an immediate Georgian ceasefire to the Russian Embassy. The Russian Air Force continues its attacks for three more days.

Anaklia (Zugdidi district)	10.08.08
Settlements near Batumi (Khelvachauri district), close to Turkish border	11.08.08
Shiraki airfield (Kakheti region)	11.08.08
Gori, twice	11-12.08.08
Senaki military airport	11.08.08
Kodori gorge, Upper Abkhazia	11.08.08
Senaki military base	11.08.08
Kere and Sakasheti (Gori district)	11-13.08.08
Kaspi (30 km from Tbilisi)	11.08.08
Tkhviavi (near Tskhinvali)	11.08.08
Vaziani military base (on the outskirts of Tbilisi)	12.08.08
Orchosani (Gori district)	12.08.08
Sakoritno (Kaspi district)	12.08.08
Ruisi village (Kareli district)	12.08.08

Occupation of Georgian towns and villages

Zugdidi (11.08.08);
Beloti village near Eredvi, Tskhinvali district (11.08.08);
Shindisi, Gori district (11.08.08);
Senaki (11.08.08);
Gori, the only connection between East and West connection blocked by Russians (11.08.08);
Khaishi, Svaneti region (12.08.08);
Upper Abkhazia (12.08.08);
Additional troops enter Gori (13 - 14.08.08);
Atosi village, Kareli district, East of Gori (13.08.08);
Pakhulani village, Tzalenjikha district (13.08.08);
Additional troops enter Zugdidi twice (14.08.08);
Mejvriskhevi village, Gori district (14.08.08);
Ruisi and Tzveri villages, Kareli district (14.08.08);
East deep from Senaki (14.08.08);
Abashistzkali village, 40 km.s away from the second largest city of Georgia, Kutaisi (15.08.08);
Igoeti (15.08.08);

Tbilisi Intrusion Threat:
12 August
15 August

Occupation of Georgian towns and villages after French-mediated ceasefire

Following the signature of the ceasefire agreement by all parties (Georgia, France and Russia), the Russian offensive should have ceased and a pullback to positions held before August 7th engaged. Instead, Russia deepened its occupation of Georgia, entering and occupying towns and villages far away from the conflict zones.

Igoeti, Kaspi district, 40 km.s away from Tbilisi (15.08.08);
Khashuri, 30 km.s west from Gori (15.08.08);
Surami, west of Khashuri (15.08.08);
Sachkhere parts, Western Georgia (16.08.08);
Akhalgori, 40 km.s North-West of Tbilisi (16.08.08);
Aditional Russian troops entered Senaki military base (17.08.08)
South Ossetian separatist paramilitaries entered additionally to Akhalgori (17.08.08)
Russian armored vehicles advanced towards Supsa oil terminal near Poti (17.08.08)
Russian Troops advanced and blocked road near Kaspi again (18.08.08)
Russian troops advanced towards Sachkere (19.08.08)
Russian troops entered Poti port again (19.08.08)
Russians opened checkpoints in Poti entrance (20.08.08)
Russians occupy village Chogha of Chkhorotsku district, Samegrelo region, in western Georgia (20.08.08)
Russian militaries occupy villages Perevi, Sachkhere in Sachkhere district, Imereti region, western Georgia (20.08.08)

Mines

Roads in the Svaneti Region were mined on 17.08.08. Road bridges on the old Gori road south of Kaspi were mined on the same date.

Russian troops used explosive devices to destroy military installations in the Senaki base on 18.08.08 and the Osiauri base on 23 and 24 August.

A landmine blew up a crude oil train 5 km west of Gori on 24 August. Other mines and buried artillery shells were subsequently found at other spots of the tracks.

Landmines and bomblets left by the departing Russian army are targeting civilans. A blast killed a woman in Gori on 24 August and injured a man in Tirdznisi on the same date.

Mines of the "frog" type have been found in civilian gardens and orchards in Gori. These are antipersonnel mines that, when stepped upon, jump into the air and explode at chest or head height.

Cluster bombs

The use of cluster bombs against civilian targets has been confirmed by Human Rights Watch. Cluster bombs explode at altitude in order to scatter bomblets over a wide area. Most bomblets explode on impact. The effect of hundreds of bomblets exploding at the same time is to saturate the targeted area with high-speed shrapnel, killing everything alive. Because the bomblets can be scattered over a wide area, these are among the most destructive antipersonnel conventional weapons.

Bomblets that fail to explode on impact become landmines.

The exceptionally destructive power of these weapons has led them to be banned by 107 countries, including all of the European Union.

Current civilian, military and journalist casualty figures

The information below is accurate to the best of our knowledge, but is subject to verification. They do not include data on South Ossetian and Russian casualties, which they government of Georgia has no way of assessing.

The numbers of dead and wounded are based exclusively on bodies received by Georgian morgues, and does not include those kept, buried, burned or otherwise disposed of within the area of Russian control.

About 160 military personnel remain unaccounted for.

The number of registered IDPs only includes those IDPs who fled to areas of Georgian control, and does not include those who fled to Russia or who are displaced within areas of Russian occupation.

Georgians wounded:

Total: 2231
Military: 1964
Civilian: 267
Discharged: 1069

Georgians killed:

Total: 216
Military: 143
Civilian: 73

Journalists:

Killed: 3 (1 international, 2 Georgians).
Injured: 6 (3 internationals, 3 Georgians).
Detained by Russians/Ossetes: 10 (8 internationals, 2 Georgians).
Attacked by Russians/Ossetes: 3 (2 internationals, 1 Georgian).
Robbed by Russians/Ossetes: 12 (all internationals).

Number of registered IDPs: 119, 000

Russian Ceasefire Agreement Breaches: Checkpoints

The Russian Army has illegally established a number of checkpoints deep within sovereign Georgian territory, contravening the ceasefire agreement. On average, they consist of about 4 armoured vehicles, 60 soldiers, support vehicles and sometimes fortifications such as concrete blocks, razor wire, trenches or earthen berms.

When the number of vehicles or personnel differs significantly from this average, details are given.

The checkpoints regularly dispatch armoured patrols into surrounding towns and villages.

This map gives an overview of the current checkpoint situation:

Central Georgia

At 22:00 on 25 August, the Ministry of Interior confirmed 12 checkpoints in central Georgia (Shida Kartli and other areas adjacent to South Ossetia, as well as in parts of South Ossetia that were never part of the conflict). Their location is given on the map below, a list follows.

List of checkpoints in Central Georgia

1. Perevi (Sachkhere district)
2. Ghodora (Sachkhere district)
3. Muguti (Znauri district)
4. Ali (Khashuri district)
5. Ptsa (Kareli district)
6. Variani (Gori district)
7. Karaleti (Gori district)
8. Shavshvebi (Gori district)
9. Ergneti (Gori district)
10. Tsiara (Java district)
11. Ikoti (Akhalgori district) 7 infantry combat vehicles, 1 armoured vehicle, 6 Ural-type vehicles, 2 Gaz-66 vehicles, 1 military power shovel, 1 mobile medical unit, 2 grenade launchers, trenches, and 100 soldiers
12. Meghvrekisi and Brotsleti (Gori district) A large concentration of about 150 vehicles, most of them armoured, are stationed between the villages.

Western Georgia

At 22:00 on 25 August, the Ministry of Interior confirmed at least 20 checkpoints in western Georgia (Samegrelo, Svaneti, Upper Kodori, Gali, Ochamchire). Their location is given on the map below, a list follows.

Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region

1. Teklati (near Senaki) - 5 armoured vehicles, 1 crane, 2 Ural-type vehicles, 1 vehicle with communication systems, 1 UAZ-type vehicle, 1 GAZ-type car, 1 large army tent, trenches are dug, 40 Russian servicemen


2. Pirveli Maisi (Khobi district) - Near former Georgian police check-point: armoured vehicles, 2 Ural-type vehicles, 1 UAZ-type vehicle, 1 large army tent, trenches are dug, 40 Russian servicemen


3. Between Shua Khorga and Chaladidi (Khobi district) - Near the turning to Kulevi oil terminal: 4 armoured vehicles, 2 Ural-type vehicles, 1 large army tent, 30 Russian servicemen


4. Menji (Senaki district) - In the Bakaraia neighborhood of the town, on the grounds of the Menji sanatorium, about 10 meters from the railroad: 3 armoured vehicle, 4 Ural-type vehicle, 2 cranes, 1 military power shovel, 1 large army tent, 40 Russian servicemen


5. Kantisubani (Tsalenjikha district) - On the Tsalenjikha-Chkhorotsku road: (3 armoured vehicles, 2 Ural-type vehicles, 1 large army tent, trenches are dug, 30 Russian servicemen


6. Chale and Muzhava (Tsalenjikha district) - At the entrances of the two villages: 3 armoured vehicles, 1 Ural-type vehicle, 20 Russian servicemen


7. Chkhorotsku - On an old airfield, near the Senaki-Chkhorotsku highway: 3 armoured vehicles, 2 Ural-type vehicles, 1 vehicle with electricity generator, 2 large army tents, 40 Russian servicemen


8. Nabada (a suburb of Poti) - 2 armoured vehicles, 1 Ural-type vehicle, 1 UAZ-type vehicle, 1 military power shovel, 1 large army tent, 30 Russian servicemen




Upper Abkhazia/Kodori Gorge




Sources report substantial Russian and Abkhaz deployments in the region. Howver, access is currently impossible, precluding an accurate count of Russian and Abkhaz personnel deployed.




9. Gentsvisi


10. Omarishara


11. Sakeni


12. Chkhalta


13. Kvapchara




Additional chekpoints





Colonel-general Anatoly Nogovitsin, the deputy head of the Russian General Staff, listed the following additional checkpoints during a press conference on 22 August:




14. Khudoni


15. Jikmuri


16. Ochamchire


17. Gupagu


18. Meore Gudava


19. Anaklia


20. Mount Kvira

Estimated number of personnel and equipment at illegal checkpoints:

• Russian servicemen: 970


• Armoured vehicles: 66


• Infatry combat vehicles: 7


• Grenade launchers: 2


• Ural-type vehicles: 22


• UAZ-type vehicle: 3


• Gaz-66 vehicles: 2


• Vilis-type car: 1


• Military Army tents: 8


• Cranes: 3


• Military power shovel: 3


• Vehicle with communication systems: 1


• Vehicle with electricity generator: 1


• Mobile medical unit: 1

Summary of Damage Inflicted by Russia

Russia's invasion is inflicting massive damage to the economy, infrastructure, and environment of Georgia. This document assesses the destruction caused by Russia during August 8-25, the period of ongoing occupation of Georgia.

The Russian army has significantly destroyed the country’s transport, energy, administrative, social, and civilian infrastructure, as well as damaged environment. Their actions have inflicted severe damage to the property of hundreds of Georgian and foreign companies, and to the houses and flats of thousands of civilians. Russian military planes intentionally set fire to large swathes of Georgia’s forests, resulting in a major environmental catastrophe and the potential loss of crucial natural assets, including endemic species.

The destruction by Russia catalogued in this document took place beyond the conflict zone, often close to Tbilisi. Damage caused by Russia inside the conflict zone cannot be assessed by the Government, since it has no access to the areas in question.

This document does not attempt to calculate the economic, environmental and commercial losses caused by Russia’s invasion and occupation of Georgia, since large areas of the country are still beyond the reach of Georgian authorities. Thus the exact estimation of the damage in monetary terms is the task for future.

Types of infrastructure damaged:

1. Transport infrastructure
2. Energy infrastructure
3. Industrial enterprises
4. Administrative, social & civilian Infrastructure
5. Intentional Forest Fires

1. Transport Infrastructure
   

   Ports:

   
   
   • August 9 and 13, Russian military jets bombed the Port of Poti on the Black Sea, in western Georgia. The bombs damaged Container Terminal #7, the largest and best-equipped terminal for handling containers. One of the two energy generators and fire control systems of the port were damaged.
   • Russia’s bombs killed 5 workers and injured more than 15 others. The Port of Poti is the main link on the TRACECA East-West transport corridor that handles cargo between Europe, Central Asia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
   • August 12, Russian troops have entered Poti Port and occupation of port is continuing till present.
   
   

   Main Railway Bridge:

   
   
   • August 16, Russian forces blew up the Grakali bridge on the central railway route connecting the eastern and western parts of Georgia. Passenger and cargo transport, including the transport of humanitarian aid was abruptly stopped.
   • The destruction of the bridge has disrupted international cargo traffic between Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Azerbaijani oil exports through Georgia were stopped. Armenia was effectively cut off from the world. Petrol rationing is in force there, and food prices have risen dramatically.
   • It will take at least two weeks to repair the bridge.
   • Ralway bridge in Marneuli 25 km from Tbilisi damaged.
   
   

   Road Bridges:

   
   
   • 17 August, Russian troops mined the road to the highly mountainous region of Svaneti (close to Abkhazia, Georgia, another conflict zone), thus potentially cutting off the region from the rest of Georgia and preventing goods and services from reaching its population.
   • August 17, two bridges in Kaspi mined.
   
   

   Railways:

   
   
   • The Russian Air Force bombed the Kaspi and Senaki rail stations, located 52 and 230 km respectively from Tskhinvali, Georgia, thus destroying vital rail infrastructure
   
   

   Maritime Blockade:

   
   
   • Since August 10, Russia’s Black Sea naval fleet has been blockading the territorial waters of Georgia, preventing ships carrying civilian cargo from entering the Port of Poti for example the cargo ship "Lotus - 1", loaded with wheat and other civilian goods, was prevented from entering Poti Port by Russian military forces (August 8-9).
   • This is resulting in massive commercial losses for companies and transporters, and preventing needed supplies from reaching Georgia and other countries in the region.
   
   

   Civilian Airports:

   
   
   • 9 August, Russia bombed Kopitnari Airport (20 km from Kutaisi, Georgia’s second largest city, and a full 180 kilometers from Tskhinvali, South Ossetia). The main runway was damaged.
   
   

   Civilian Radar Stations:

   
   
   • 13 August, a civilian radar station serving the civil aviation system of Georgia, located 5 km north of downtown Tbilisi on Makhata Mountain, was bombed and destroyed by Russian warplanes.
   
   

   Damage to Roads & Highways:

   
   
   • August 9, Russian jets bombed the bypass road of the Rikoti road tunnel, which connects the eastern and western parts of Georgia, therefore cutting country’s transport infrastructure.
   • Several hundred kilometers of roads and highways have been mined and damaged by the movement of heavy Russian military vehicles.


2. Energy Infrastructure
   

   International energy pipelines:

   
   
   • Areas adjacent to all three international pipelines - BTC, SCP, and Baku Supsa - were attacked by fighter jets between August 8 and August 12.
   • The bombed locations were 20 km east of Tbilisi, far beyond the conflict zone. Several bombs were dropped only 5 meters from the Baku Supsa oil pipeline on August 8. Russian rockets caused an explosion on the 27th kilometer of the Baku-Supsa crude-oil pipeline near Tbilisi.
   
   

   Electricity:

   
   
   • August 12, Russian bombers damaged electricity transmission lines leaving more than four thousand civilians without power.
   • Three transmission lines connecting the western and eastern parts of Georgia also have been damaged: "Kavkasioni" and "Kartli 2," and "Liakhvi" .
   • At present, the eastern and western parts of Georgia’s energy infrastructure are operating as separate systems.


3. Industrial Enterprises
   

   Aircraft plant:

   
   
   • August 10, an aircraft plant adjacent to Tbilisi International Airport was bombed twice with long-delay blasting bombs. The landing strip and adjacent infrastructure was destroyed.
   
   

   Cement factory:

   
   
   • August 12, a cement factory in Kaspi owned by German manufacturer Heidelberg Cement was bombed; the factory is 30 km from Tbilisi.
   
   

   Wine factory:

   
   
   • August 16, Russian jets dropped unidentified devices on the wine factory in the village of Okami, in the Kaspi district, 52 kilometers from Tbilisi.


4. Administrative, Social & Civilian Infrastructure
   

   Administrative buildings:

   
   
   • Russian forces and paramilitary troops have robbed and damaged nearly all the administrative buildings they have occupied. A precise damage assessment can only be made after the Russian Army withdraws.
   
   

   Damage to Civilian Police Equipment:

   
   
   • August 18, Russian armored vehicles intentionally drove into and damaged several police cars in Kaspi, 52 kilometers from Tskhinvali.
   
   

   Schools and Kindergarden:

   
   
   • Four schools in Gori district - Gori school #7, Nikozi, Tviti and Karzji schools were partially destroyed and several schools were damaged.
   • As A result of Russian jets bombing a kindergarten in Gori was destroyed.
   
   

   Cemetery:

   
   
   • August 11, Bombs hit a cemetery and fields near Batumi, 15 kilometers from the Georgian-Turkish border.
   
   

   Hospital:

   
   
   • August 12, a bomb exploded in the backyard of the hospital in Gori (30 kilometers from Tskhinvali), killing a doctor and significantly damaging the hospital.
   
   

   University:

   
   
   • August 12, the University of Gori was hit by numerous bombs, destroying parts of the main building in the central square of the city.
   
   

   Market:

   
   
   • August 12, the main market in Gori was bombed.
   
   

   TV Broadcasting Station:

   
   
   • August 12, Russian troops destroyed the Gori TV broadcasting station. As a result, TV and radio broadcasting has been interrupted in Gori and surrounding areas. One employee was killed, three wounded.
   
   

   Tele-communication:

   
   
   • More then 30 base stations of leading mobile operators "MAGTI" and "GEOCELL" in Gori and Kaspi were completely destroyed.
   • Two fider-optic lines, following the railway and the highway in Gori and Kaspi was damaged.
   
   

   Civilian Homes:

   
   
   • In every territorial-administrative unit invaded by the Russian Army, its forces have robbed and/or burnt civilian houses. A precise assessment of damage can only be made after the Russian Army withdraws.
   • Thousands of houses in villages across South Ossetia and in the villages north of Gori have been looted and burned. A precise assessment is impossible at the moment, but the likely scale of the damage is suggested by satellite maps of burning Georgian villages published by UNOSAT.


5. Environmental Damage
   

   Forest Fires:

   
   
   • According to UNOSAT, about 450 hectares of forest in southwestern Georgia, about 108 kilometers from Tskhinvali, burned after being intentionally set ablaze by Russian military helicopters on August 15. This has caused an ecological catastrophe and damaged the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park.
   • August 16, helicopters set fire in the Kaspi district and in Surami, Khashuri district.
   • August 20, Russian military helicopters dropped fire setting bombs in Djevera (Gori district) and in Kiketi, 10km west of Tbilisi. The latter area was firebombed again after the fire was put down the next day.

President Medvedev to recognize independence

The information below is accurate to the best of our knowledge,
but is subject to verification.

25 AUGUST

10:40 – Upper House of the Russian Parliament - Council of the Federation recommends President Medvedev to recognize independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Meeting with NATO representative Robert Simmons

On 22 August 2008 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Eka Tkeshalashvili held a meeting with NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for South Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons.

The sides discussed the issues of NATO’s assistance to Georgia in various fields with focus on the Alliance’s firm and steadfast support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Note was also taken of the Alliance’s general approach to Russia’s aggression against Georgia and the urgency of immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Georgia.

The sides focused on details of setting up a NATO-Georgia commission as well.

Following the meeting the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the NATO Secretary General's Special Representative held a joint press conference.

Timeline for 24th August, to 12:50

24 AUGUST

12:50 Forest is on fire in the surroundings of village Gldani on the outskirts of Tbilisi.

11:30 Georgian police release AP journalists detained by Russian soldiers
• An AP TV crew operating near Poti was arrested this morning by the Russian army because they did not have Russian media accreditation. They were taken to the Georgian police station in Poti and released there.

11:00 US Navy destroyer McFaul enters Batumi port.

10:30 Train carrying petroleum explodes on the railroad west of Gori.
• A train carrying 34 tanks of crude oil exploded at about 10:30 near the village of Skra, 7 km west of Gori, when moving from Azerbaijan to Batumi. 13 tanks are burning. The cause is suspected to be a Russian mine: Skra had been under full Russian control until the Russian pull-out of Gori. No casualties reported.

Intentionally set fires

Timeline for 23rd August, to 12:00

23 AUGUST

12:00 Chief of staff of Russian Army Anatoly Nogovitsin names at the press conferense places where Russian intends to organize checkpoints. In violation of the ceasefire agreement they are well out the conflict zone, namely in: Perevi – near Sachkhere; Ali - 90kms from Tbilisi and 7 Km from east-west highway, on the way from Khashuri to Sachkere and South Ossetia; Kvenatkotsa – in Kareli district near Agara, 1 km from eas-west highway; Variani – 10km north of Gori, on the road from Gori to Tskhinvali; Karaleti – 10km north of Gori, on the road to Tskhinvali; Shavshvebi – 40km west of Tbilisi on the east-west Highway, Monasteri – 35 Kms noerth-west from Tbilisi on the way to Akhalgori and 7kms from eastwest highway, Ikoti – 40Kms north-west from Tbilisi near town Akhalgori and 12kms from east-west highway.

11:30 Parliament of Georgia prolongs Martial Law till September 8.

Meeting with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

On 22 August 2008 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Grigol Vashadze met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, President of Ukraine’s special representative Konstantin Eliseev.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia provided his Ukrainian counterpart with exhaustive information concerning the situation resulting from the unlawful actions of the Russian occupation army as well as on the population affected by ethnic cleansing.

Mr Eliseev reaffirmed the Ukrainian side’s readiness to assist Georgia in overcoming the crisis. He also focused on the measures considered to be expedient in terms of Ukraine’s national security interests.

Meeting with Italian Ambassador

On 22 August 2008 a meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Grigol Vashadze and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Italy to Georgia Vittorio Sandalli.

The meeting was attended by Ms. Nino Baratashvili, Counsellor of the First European Division of the European Affairs Department.

The sides discussed the issues of aggression and ethnic cleansing conducted by the Russian side in Georgia.

The Italian Ambassador once again confirmed the support and solidarity of his country towards Georgia.

Meeting with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office

On 22 August 2008, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Minister of Foreign Affairs Eka Tkeshelashvili and State Minister for Reintegration Issues Temur Iakobashvili held a meeting with OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Alexander Stubb.

The sides discussed the situation consequent to the Russian Federation’s intervention in Georgia and the issues related to implementation of the ceasefire agreement signed through the mediation of the President of France.

The sides also discussed prospects for elaboration of an international peace format aimed at resolution of the conflicts in Georgia and immediate steps to be taken shortly afterwards. The Finnish Foreign Minister stated that the assignment of an additional contingent of OSCE monitors to Georgia is an initial step for developing a new international peace mechanism.

The sides agreed to continue active cooperation on the issues of priority.

Following the meeting, the Georgian and Finnish Foreign Ministers held a joint press conference:

Press conference transcript:

Mrs. Eka Tkeshelashvili:

Greetings! I’d like to brief you on main aspects of our meeting.

As far as you know twenty OSCE monitors will shortly arrive in Georgia to assess the extent to which the Russian side complies with its commitments under the ceasefire agreement. It is the beginning of the process. OSCE plans to increase the number of monitors soon and extend the scope of their activity. We therefore discussed the ways in which this mission should be carried out and the area that needs to be covered by monitors and international observers. We also focused on the role the European Union should play in resolving the existing crisis.

Today we are faced with two tasks. The first task is a short-term one and envisages ensuring full compliance with the ceasefire agreement, which means that the Russian side should not be allowed to interpret this agreement wrongly and unilaterally and continue, based on its own discretionary decisions, deploying Russian troops on the territory of Georgia. We are also seriously focused on the second stage of the process, which will ensue after reaching compliance with the ceasefire agreement and de-escalation of the situation. This second stage envisages achieving restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity through international peaceful mechanisms and full protection of human rights throughout the entire territory of Georgia, which will prevent further emergence of such ‘uncontrolled places’ where human rights violations will run rife and criminal regimes will become a functioning reality. It must forever become a past chapter of Georgian history. The population on the territory of Georgia whatever their ethnic origin should be allowed the opportunity to benefit from the rule of law, democracy, absolute protection of human rights, they should consider themselves members of a European country and enjoy all the benefits of being citizens of a European country.

I would like to thank once again our guest for his personal and active involvement in the problem resolving process both in the capacity as OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Finnish Foreign Minister. Let me give him the floor.


Mr. Alexander Stubb:

Thank you very much.

I would like to stress three points. Point number one is about our operation of military monitors. So far things run very smoothly. We will able to bring in totally twenty monitors by this weekend, including seven so called APCs, armored vehicles with contributions from many OSCE countries. I think they will have calming effect on the ceasefire. And I think this very important element in providing us with objective information. It is very important that with the leadership of Colonel Lieutenant Steven Yang we can get this operation up and running. And that is what we are doing together with the head of the mission Terhi Hakala. So, point number one the operation of military observance is running smoothly.

Point number two. I still think that the ceasefire agreement is fragile, that is why we must focus all of our efforts to the withdrawal of the troops and to return to normalcy. I think the military monitors will play a very important role in this. But remember we must now focus on the withdrawal of troops. We hope that this process takes place smoothly.

Point number three. I think it is time for us in the international community not to start thinking of true international assessment of this conflict. We need to start reflecting upon how we arrange the future of stabilization of the region, how and what form of peacekeepers, international peacekeepers will be brought in, how do we get the political process going, will we have a high representative for the region, what is the long-term prospective. Because, all of us are involved in these processes from the beginning, we are in this process from the long run. So, that’s why we must start thinking of how all of us, the international community, the USA, the EU, the UN, the OSCE, Russia can solve this conflict and stabilize the region.

So, these are three main points that I wanted to stress. Thank you.

Timeline for 22nd August, to 20:00

The information below is accurate to the best of our knowledge,
but is subject to verification.

22 AUGUST

20:00 Russian troops are leaving Gori and Khashuri in eastern Goergia and Senaki and Khobi in Western Georgia. Russian troops remain in Poti and village Perevi in Sachkhere district.

19:30 Russian troops explode remaining installations of military base near Gori in village Khurvaleti.

14:30 Russian troops start withdrawal from Igoeti and Kaspi 25kms from Tbilisi towards Gori. Gori remains under Russian control.

14:00 100 armored vehicles start movement from Senaki towards Zugdidi. Russian troops still remain in Senaki and Poti.

12:00 Deputy Chief of Staff of Russian Army Anatoly Nogovitsin says on press conference that Russia will keep 18 checkpoints on South Ossetian-Georgian “border” and in buffer zone. The same amount of Check points and 2142 soldiers will remain on Georgian-Abkhazian “border”.

10:00 No evidence of Russian troops withdrawal is observed by 10:00

02:30 Unknown explosive device exploded in Marneuli, installed under the railway bridge – no damage reported

Reportedly antitank missile or explosive exploded under the Imiri railway bridge, Marneuli district, 25 kms south from Tbilisi. The bridge was not damaged

Russian troops dig entrenchments in village Chuberi near Enguri Power Plant. Military presence of Russian troops reported at the dam infrastructure of power plant.

Ukraine-Georgia press conference

On 19 August 2008, at the GUAM press centre in the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Ukraine Merab Antadze and GUAM Secretary General Valeri Chechelashvili held a press conference for representatives of the mass media and diplomatic missions concerning the consequences of the Russian-Georgian conflict.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Ukraine Merab Antadze discussed the reasons behind the Russian-Georgian conflict and the consequences that ensued after the Russian Federation’s military aggression and ethnic cleansing conducted in Georgia.

GUAM Secretary General Valeri Chechelashvili focused the attention of the attending audience on the fact that Russia’s actions resulted in the disruption of regional cooperation and blockade of energy and transport communications and called on the chairs of the international organizations of which Russia is a member to exert pressure on Moscow in order to bring it back within the frames of international law.

Mr. Chechelashvili noted that with its actions Russia undermined BlackSeaFor, disintegrated CIS, restored the Big Seven and denied itself access to WTO and the right to act as a mediator in conflict resolution process on the territory of Georgia.

Civilians Killed by Russian Cluster Bomb ‘Duds’

(Tbilisi, August 21, 2008) – Georgian and Russian authorities should take urgent measures to protect the civilian population in Georgian villages from unexploded ordnance left by Russian attacks, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch researchers documented additional Russian cluster munitions attacks during the conflict in Georgia, refuting Russia’s earlier denials that it used the weapon.
Human Rights Watch researchers saw and photographed unexploded submunitions from cluster munitions in and around the villages of Shindisi, in the Gori district of Georgia. Residents from Shindisi and the nearby Pkhvenisi village told Human Rights Watch researchers there are hundreds of unexploded submunitions in the area. Submunition “duds” are highly dangerous and can explode if picked up or otherwise disturbed.

“Many people have died because of Russia’s use of cluster munitions in Georgia, even as Moscow denied it had used this barbaric weapon,” said Marc Garlasco, senior military analyst at Human Rights Watch. “Many more people could be killed or wounded unless Russia allows professional demining organizations to enter at once to clean the affected areas.”

Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that on August 8, 2008, Russian air strikes on Georgian armored units located near Shindisi and Pkhvenisi were followed by extensive cluster munition strikes that killed at least one civilian and injured another in Shindisi. At least two more civilians were killed and five wounded in the following days when they handled unexploded submunitions, including an incident 10 days after the initial strikes. As of August 20, Shindisi and Pkhvenisi areas remain under Russian control.

Zviad Geladze, 38, points to a cluster munition strike on the path to his farm field. © 2008 Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch called upon Russia to immediately stop using cluster munitions, weapons so dangerous to civilians that more than 100 nations have agreed to ban their use. Human Rights Watch also called on Russia to provide precise strike data on its cluster attacks in order to facilitate cleanup of areas contaminated by submunitions. Human Rights Watch called on Georgia to undertake an immediate risk education program for its population, including radio and television announcements about the dangers of submunitions.

In Shindisi, Human Rights Watch researchers saw unexploded dual purpose (anti-armor and antipersonnel) submunitions, commonly known as Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) submunitions.

“Highly dangerous unexploded bomblets now litter farms, roads, and pathways in Shindisi and Pkhvenisi,” said Garlasco. “People remaining in these areas don’t realize the dangers these submunitions pose and are at serious risk of injury or death if they handle, or even approach, the bomblets.”

Human Rights Watch first reported on Russian use of cluster munitions in Georgia on August 15, after it identified strikes on Gori and Ruisi on August 12 that killed at least 11 civilians and injured dozens more. Russia subsequently denied any use of cluster munitions. Colonel General Anatoly Nogovitsyn, deputy head of the Russian General Staff, stated on August 15, “We did not use cluster bombs, and what’s more, there was absolutely no necessity to do so.”

Unexploded Russian submunitions found by Human Rights Watch researchers in Shindisi, a village in the Gori region of Georgia. These submunition "duds" are highly dangerous and can explode if picked up or otherwise disturbed. © 2008 Human Rights Watch

Zura Tatrishvili, 62, showed Human Rights Watch researchers an unexploded submunition that he had picked up without realizing that just touching it could make it explode. “We were playing with them, as were the Georgian soldiers,” said Tatrishvili. “It was only when one of the bombs exploded after a soldier threw it that we understood that they were dangerous.” Even now, Tatrishvili continues to keep his livestock in a pen with unexploded submunitions, demonstrating the need for clearance as well as education.

During the attack on August 8 in Shindisi, Vano Gogidze, 45, was killed and his relative, Dato Gogidze, 39, was injured. Also in Shindisi, Ramaz Arabashvili, 40, was killed and four people were wounded when a submunition that they had gathered from a field exploded on August 10. On August 18, in Pkhvenisi, Veliko Bedianashvili, 70, died when a submunition exploded in his hand. “There are so many of these lying around. The fields are full of them,” said his son, Durmiskhan Bedianashvili.

Zviad Geladze, 38, showed Human Rights Watch researchers fields contaminated with submunitions. He estimated the submunitions covered an area extending at least one kilometer through his farm. The fields are full of produce ready to harvest. Because humanitarian agencies continue to lack access to much of the Gori region, fields like Geladze’s may provide residents of the region with their only food source.

Cluster munitions contain dozens or hundreds of smaller submunitions or bomblets and cause unacceptable humanitarian harm in two ways. First, their broad-area effect kills and injures civilians indiscriminately during strikes. Second, many submunitions do not explode, becoming de facto landmines that cause civilian casualties for months or years to come.

Under international humanitarian law, indiscriminate attacks including attacks in populated areas with weapons that cannot be targeted solely at military targets are prohibited. Russia has an obligation not only to cease any such attacks, but also to take all necessary measures now to ensure the safety of the civilian population in areas over which it exercises effective control.

Human Rights Watch called on Georgia, which is known to have cluster munitions in its stockpiles, to join the international move to ban the use of cluster munitions and to publicly undertake not to use such weapons in this conflict. Neither Russia nor Georgia was part of the Oslo Process launched in February 2007 to develop a new international treaty banning cluster munitions. In May 2008, 107 nations adopted the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which comprehensively bans the use, production, trade and stockpiling of the weapon. It will be open for signature in Oslo on December 3.

Restricted freedom of movement for diplomatic corps through Georgia

On 21 August 2008 the Embassy of the Russian Federation to Georgia sent a Note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. The Note, in particular, indicates: ‘in order to arrange civilized movement throughout Gori for the delegations and persons intending to arrive or already present in Georgia and planning to travel to Gori, the Embassy requests advance notification on any such travel plan, delegation members, travel objectives and duration, transport vehicles and itinerary. In the given situation the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation must obtain such information in order to give respective instructions to the peacekeeping command, which will further ensure unhindered movement’.

In the aftermath of ethnic cleansing and mass and flagrant violation of human rights perpetrated by the Russian army on the territory of Georgia, the Russian Federation undertook to restrict freedom of movement for the diplomatic corps throughout the territory of Georgia. It points clearly to the degree of Moscow’s compliance with the ceasefire agreement signed by the Russian President and provides another proof of continued occupation of Georgian territory by the Russian armed forces.

By undertaking such actions, the Russian Federation grossly violates provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Article 26 of the Convention, in particular, stipulates that the receiving State shall ensure to all members of the diplomatic corps freedom of movement and travel throughout all of its territory.

Russia’s actions in Georgia contradict such universally recognized norms and principles of international common and codified law, which provide the basis and guarantee for establishing each state as a subject of international law within the international system.

It is a regrettable fact that the Russian Federation being a legal successor to the Soviet Union continues to base its actions on Soviet-imperialist traditions.

Extraordinary joint meeting

The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Security and Defence and the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus held an extraordinary joint meeting on 20 August 2008 to discuss the situation in Georgia.

French Minister of State for European Affairs Jean-Pierre Jouyet was invited as a rapporteur at the first part of the session, which was closed to the public. Following his address European Parliament members heard the remarks of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Eka Tkeshelashvili.

A majority of members of the European Parliament expressed their solidarity with and support for Georgia. The meeting condemned Russia’s aggressive actions. It was decided that the situation in Georgia will be discussed at the first plenary session of the European Parliament scheduled to take place at the beginning of September and that the European Parliament will adopt a respective resolution.

‘Given Russia defying its international commitments, the European Union can no longer continue its usual way of cooperation with Russia’ - Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Jacek Saryusz-Wolski is quoted as saying.

The focus of discussions was also the type of economic and political assistance the European Union may render to Georgia in the given situation.

Timeline for 21st August, to 21:00

The information below is accurate to the best of our knowledge,
but is subject to verification.

21 AUGUST

21:00 Russian troops once again fail to pullout as agreed
Russia again delayed the pullout of its troops. According to the Commander of Russian Ground Forces, Army General Vladimir Boldirev, the process of withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Georgia will take 10 days. He declared that peacekeeping checkpoints will start operating from August 22nd and remaining Russian troops will pullout in the coming ten days.

19:30 Russian militaries release 10 soldiers out of 20, captured on 19th of August in Poti Port.

18:00 Russian military handed 62 Georgian civilian hostages to Georgian side. Government of Georgia claims 101 more civilians are kept by Russian side in Tskhinvali.

16:00 According to the Foreign Minister of Finland and the OSCE Chair in Office Alex Stubb, there is little evidence of Russian troops withdrawing.

Russia restricts the freedom of movement throughout territory of Georgia
Embassy of the Russian Federation to Georgia handed a Note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, according to which the Ministry of Defense of the RF must be in advance notified about any planned travel of all delegations and persons to Gori. The statement of Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers this as an attempt from Russian side to restrict the freedom of movement for the diplomatic corps throughout the territory of Georgia and serves as another proof of continued occupation of Georgian territory by the Russian armed forces.

15:00 Russians creating a buffer zone
According to Anatoly Nogovitsin,Ddeputy Chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, Russian forces will establish two lines of checkpoints in “a security zone” in the vicinity of South Ossetia“. “The first line will include eight checkpoints across the line of zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers. The second line – involving 10 checkpoints – will be set across the administrative border of South Ossetia. Total of 272 soldiers will be deployed on the eight checkpoints of the first line,” he declared, and added that there will be a buffer zone between these two lines. Nogovitsin did not give any other details or specifics about the exact area of the zone; however he said that the town of Gori would not be included in the zone.

11:00 Ambassador of France to Georgia Eric Fournier is being blocked near Gori by Russian troops on his way from Satchkhere to Tbilisi and is prevented to continue his drive. He has been allowed to continue at 13:00.

10:30 Russian troops dig entrenchments in Poti

• Russian occupants start digging entrenchments in Poti. Russian `BMP` armored tanks and `URAL` trucks are located at the Nabadi territory at the entrance of the city

As reported, Russian troops open fire on Humanitarian Airplanes above Gori.

Another illegal act carried out by the Russian Federation’s armed forces

It has become known that the Russian Federation’s armed forces illegally stationed on the territory of Georgia are mounting yet another provocation. In particular, Russian servicemen with the use of appropriate equipment are building a fixed control checkpoint on the Senaki-Poti highway, in the vicinity of the entrance to Poti, on the so-called 7th kilometer.

The aforesaid fact indicates the Russian side’s yet another attempt to proceed with and further expand its military intervention in and occupation of the territory of Georgia. It needs to be noted that Poti is located approximately 30 kilometers from the conflict zone of Abkhazia and approximately 160 kilometers from the conflict zone of the Tskhinvali region.

Against the background of the Russian Federation’s statement made at the highest level, actual facts of withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Georgia point quite to the contrary.

We once again call on the international community to employ all resources at its disposal to put an end to Russian aggression.

Georgian Foreign Minister holds bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the NATO Foreign Ministerial Session in Brussels

On the sidelines of the NATO Foreign Ministerial Session on the situation in Georgia, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Eka Tkeshelashvili held a number of bilateral meetings at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

On 19 August 2008, the Georgian Foreign Minister met with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Bernard Kouchner, Federal Foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada David Emerson, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Maxime Verhagen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Ivailo Kalfin and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre.

The same day a working dinner was held with the foreign Ministers of the New Group of Friends. The Georgian Foreign Minister also met with OSCE Chairman-in-office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Alexander Stubb and High Representative of the Common and Security Policy of the European Union Javier Solana.

During these meetings, Minister Tkeshelashvili provided her foreign colleagues with exhaustive information on the Russian Federation’s military aggression against Georgia and the ongoing occupation. It was underlined that Russia continues naval and transport blockade disrupting military as well as civilian infrastructure and inflicting irreparable economic damage on the country.

The foreign diplomats unequivocally reaffirmed their support for Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and the necessity of Russia’s unconditional compliance with its commitments under the ceasefire agreement, envisaging, in particular, immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from the Georgian territory. The Alliance member states were unanimous in pledging their support for Georgia in various important fields.

The countries also expressed their readiness for active involvement in terms of providing humanitarian assistance and carrying out restoration works on the territory of Georgia.

On the UN Security Council Session

On 19 August 2008, in New York, on the initiative of the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations, an emergency session of the UN Security Council was held to deal with the tense situation in the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia and other parts of Georgia.

Permanent Representative of Georgia to UN Irakli Alasania addressed the Security Council session acquainting its members in detail with the existing situation in Georgia. He asserted that the Russian Federation is carrying out a massive military intervention in Georgia and urged the Council members for action.

Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe and Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Edmond Mulet expressed their deep concern over the situation in Georgia and called on the Russian Federation for immediate compliance with the commitments undertaken on the basis of the ceasefire agreement.

Representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Belgium and Costa Rica also registered unanimously their support for the principles of Georgia’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of borders and urged Russia for adherence to the commitments under the ceasefire agreement and immediate withdrawal of its troops from the territory of Georgia.

The Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations developed a draft resolution of the UN Security Council, which should provide legal guarantees for the fulfillment of the peace agreement reached between Georgia and Russia.

Despite the commitment undertaken by the Russian Federation at the highest level to fulfill this agreement, Russia’s Permanent Representative to UN V. Churkin insisted on removal of the key points of this agreement from the draft resolution, which made it impossible to adopt the document.

The international community should no longer be surprised at the fact that the Russian Federation, which in the 21st century occupied the territory of Georgia thus lifting the veil from the hitherto disguised priorities of its own foreign policy, does all in its power to prevent the UN Security Council from adopting a resolution that could make Russia give up on its designs.

Timeline for 20th August, to 22:30

20 AUGUST

22:30 Russians reopen Gori check-points
• Russian troops reopen check-points in Gori that had been reportedly closed several hours before.

18:30 Russians drop fire-setting bombs 10 Km from Tbilisi
• In Kiketi, 10 km from Tbilisi, Russian military aircrafts drop fire-setting bombs, the forest in burning.

16:00 Russians occupy village in Chkhorotsku district, Samegrelo region, western Georgia
• Russians enter village Chogha of Chkhorotsku district, Samegrelo region, with armored vehicles and start digging the trenches.

15:30 Russians make checkpoint in the entrance of Poti.

14:00 Houses in Gori district burning
• Houses in village Dzevera in Gori district are burning. Besides, the Boshuri forest is also burning and the villages Bisi and Bobnevi are under danger.

13:00 Russian militaries try to prevent Matyas Eorsi from entering Gori
• Representative of the Council of Europe Matyas Eorsi is prevented by Russian militaries from entering Gori. After long dispute he entered the city, and was stopped again on his way back.

12:00 Governor of Shida Kartli arrested
• Representative of President-Governor of Shida Kartli Lado Vardzelashvili is arrested by Russian militaries at one of illegal Russian checkpoints as he was trying to release the trucks with humanitarian aid to the population of Gori district. He was released from detention after two hours.

Russian militaries do not allow the trucks with humanitarian aid to enter village Karaleti in Gori district.

11:00 Russian militaries occupy village in Sachkhere district, Imereti region, western Georgia
• Russian militaries occupy the village of Perevi, Sachkhere district, Imereti region. Over 50 Russian soldiers and three tanks are stationed there. It is reported that aggressors urge the population to get out of their houses and flee the village.

Vashadze received members of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia

On 20 August 2008 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Grigol Vashadze received members of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia Sandra Kalniete and Karlis Sadurskis. The meeting was attended by Director of the European Affairs’ Department Kakha Sikharulidze and II Secretary of the same Department Eka Chokheli.

The guests once again reiterated the support of Latvia and the people of Latvia towards the territorial integrity of Georgia and emphasized that the aim of their visit is to support the Georgian people.

The sides respectively assessed the recent developments in Georgia and touched upon the possible ways out of the present situation.

The Latvian side stressed that the Latvian people maintain firm in supporting Georgia and its foreign policy goals and expressed its hope for the normalization of situation in the nearest future.

Vashadze met with EU Special Representative for South Caucasus

On 20 August 2008 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Grigol Vashadze met with EU Special Representative for South Caucasus Peter Semneby.

The sides focused on the European Union’s role in resolving the issue of immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from the occupied territory of Georgia and expressed their support for the unwavering principle of the international community’s respect for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Georgian Deputy Minister emphasized that Russia’s foreign policy is based on aggression the key instruments of which are conduction of ethnic cleansing in the neighbouring countries and complete destruction of their national economies.

Mr. Vashadze provided the European side, upon the latter’s request, with detailed information on the demographic composition of the Tskhinvali region prior to and after the Russian-Georgian conflict.

MFA reply to News-Georgia Agency

Question: In his interview to Vremya Novostey, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grushko accused Georgia of gross violation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, the preamble of which reads that conscious of the need to prevent any military conflict, the state parties refrain from the use of force. How will you assess this statement?

Reply: It needs to be emphasized first of all that the Georgian side considers the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe as a cornerstone of the system of European security and strictly adheres to each of the Treaty-stipulated commitments.

As for Mr. Grushko’s comment, such absurd accusations take on a particularly cynical overtone when voiced by an official of the state, which has unleashed a large-scale military aggression against its neighbouring sovereign state, occupying a considerable part of its territory and conducting ethnic cleansing there.

It would be expedient for the Russian side to recall, while making similar statements, the so-called military operation Russia carried out in Chechnia, which entailed dire humanitarian consequences.

Furthermore, it is Russia’s non-fulfillment of its international commitments (Istanbul commitments) that has blocked the entry into force of the adapted CFE Treaty for so many years. Moreover, in December 2007 Russia violated the CFE Treaty by imposing a moratorium on its implementation thus putting the system of European security under serious threat.

NATO Foreign Ministerial Session

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia welcomes the statement adopted by the NATO Foreign Ministerial Session on the situation in Georgia.

A special reference should be made to the Alliance’s unqualified support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Of paramount importance to Georgia is NATO’s firm position on the urgency of unconditional implementation of the ceasefire agreement and immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Georgia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia expresses its gratitude to the Alliance member states for their readiness to render humanitarian and economic assistance to Georgia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia commends the Alliance’s decision to set up a NATO-Georgia Commission and expresses readiness to start, after reaching an agreement on respective modalities, active cooperation in this format in near future.

Georgia is determined to continue cooperation with the Alliance in the frames of Intensified Dialogue on Membership Issues and expresses hope that its relations with NATO will move to a qualitatively higher level of Membership Action Plan (MAP).

Georgian military servicemen taken hostage at the Poti seaport

On August 19, 2008, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Colonel-General A. Nogovitsyn stated that the Russian peacekeepers had apprehended and disarmed twenty heavily armed Georgian paramilitaries, who were driving Hummer type five military vehicles (HAMVEE).

The above statement is slanderous and does not adequately reflect the real state of affairs.

In accordance with the ceasefire agreement, Georgian troops are returning to the places of their previous deployment. In particular, on 19 August, at 01:00, a small Georgian unit including 20 servicemen equipped with light weaponry was deployed at a small-sized military base next to one of the private terminals of the Poti Port.

On August 19, at 08:30 am, a column of Russian heavy military vehicles once again invaded the Poti seaport, which is a private-owned facility, and the Russian military unit took hostage the Georgian soldiers deployed there.

During withdrawal from the facility, Russian soldiers took with them five Hummer type military vehicles, which belong to the Armed Forces of the United States and were prepared for transportation to the United States. The above vehicles were brought to Georgia back in July, as US side needed them for participation in the international training "Immediate Response-2008”.

When moving out from the seaport territory, the Russian militaries blindfolded and placed several Georgian military servicemen on the Russian military vehicles to use them as "live shields”.

Thus, the General Nogovitsyn’s statement, according to which the heavily armed Georgian paramilitaries were allegedly imprisoned on August 18, by the Russian military servicemen deployed at the Russian peacekeeping check-point, is absolutely false and misleading.

It should be stressed as well that the Poti seaport is located far beyond the area envisaged in the ceasefire agreement brokered by the President of France; as a matter of fact, the above facility is situated approximately 30 kilometers away from the administrative border of Abkhazian region and 160 kilometers away from the administrative border of so-called South Ossetia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia strongly demands the Russian side to immediately release the illegally imprisoned Georgian military servicemen.

More military monitoring officers

On 19 August 2008 the Permanent Council of the OSCE adopted the decision on increasing the number of Military Monitoring Officers in the OSCE Mission to Georgia by up to one hundred. The OSCE Member States have decided that 20 MMOs will be deployed immediately in the areas adjacent to South Ossetia. As regards to the rest of the additional MMOs, the modalities for their deployment are to be proposed by the OSCE Chairmanship, Finland without delay.

By deployment of additional OSCE Military Monitoring Officers in Georgia, the international mechanism is starting to operate, as stipulated by the cease-fire accord signed by the Georgian and Russian sides under the mediation of the President of France. According to paragraph 5 of the accord, "while awaiting an international mechanism, the Russian forces will implement additional security measures” in the conflict zone.

Furthermore, the deployment of the OSCE Military Monitoring Officers in Georgia implies that the Russian Federation, first of all, must withdraw unconditionally and without delay all its military forces from Georgia, and in parallel to this, immediately stop implementing aforementioned "additional security measures” carried out by so called peacekeepers.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia would like to underline the active input and leading role of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, without which it would be impossible to reach consensus on such decision. The Georgian side expresses its hope that the Russian Federation will comply with its obligations in good faith and abstain from impeding further decisions, essential for meeting all obligations under the cease-fire accord.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Georgia

On 19 August 2008, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigol Vashadze met with UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres.

The sides discussed the issues of Russia’s military intervention in Georgia and assistance for internally displaced persons emerging as a consequence. The focus of discussions was the rendering of humanitarian assistance to the affected people.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees expressed his readiness to provide maximum amount of assistance, both material and human resources, to Georgia. Mr. Guterres pledged support in ensuring unconditional and dignified return of displaced persons.

The Georgian side underlined that the Russian Federation is engaged in deliberate efforts to destroy Georgian infrastructure with the use of military means at its disposal. The Russian side tries to legalize the consequences of the occupation. In the final analysis, it is obvious that Russia has taken up a path of military aggression and ethnic cleansing in its foreign policy.

The sides agreed to continue consultations with respect to the aforesaid issues.

Russian Armed Forces Moved into Satchkhere

On August 19, 2008 Russian several armored vehicles of the Russian armed forces moved into Satchkhere, and attempted to enter the military base located there. They were turned back by Georgian police, which blocked the road with the patrol cars. Before leaving the territory Russian soldiers threatened that they would return with more vehicles and troops in order to destroy the military base. According to our information, reinforced Russian troops and military technique is currently moving towards the Satchkhere military base, which is located beyond the conflict zones, in the Western part of Georgia.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia would like to underline that in accordance with the point 4 of the cease-fire agreement signed by President Saakashvili on August 15, Georgian armed forces returned to their permanent bases of deployment, including the Satchkhere military base. Therefore, an attempt of the Russian armed forces to assault the Sathckhere base is another provocation undertaken by the Russian side.

This provocation has a clear aim of stirring the spiral of further violence and bloodshed between Russia and Georgia. Georgia is currently undertaking all the obligations it undertook by signing the cease-fire accord. Unfortunately we can not say the same about the Russian side, which has not withdrawn its armed forces from the territory of Georgia; moreover, they are continuing entering various cities, destroying military and civilian infrastructure, looting and robbing peaceful population, dropping fire bombs on the forrests, blowing up bridges, establishing new illegal checkpoints on the highways, et cetera.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia strongly calls upon the Russian Federation to immediately start implementing the principles set forth in the cease-fire accord and withdraw all its armed forces to the places of their deployment before the outbreak of the hostilities. More precisely, we call upon the Russian Federation government to immediately recall back their troops which are currently heading towards Satchkhere. We also call upon the international community to take urgent measures to stop continuous Russian provocations, and make sure that Russian armed forces leave the territory of Georgia.

Moscow chooses ethnic cleansing

We would like to focus the international community’s attention on the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding on the territories occupied by the Russian armed forces.

There has been no decline in ethnically based mass robbery, persecution and slaughter of people on the Russian-occupied territories. As a consequence, ethnic Georgians are forced to flee their homes and seek shelter in the cities under the control of the Georgian Authorities. An added complication is the fact that Russian servicemen deny representatives of the international humanitarian organizations and mass media access to the territories still remaining under their control.

Apart from servicemen, urgent involvement of subdivisions of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations in the ethnic cleansing process provides evidence that we are faced with a crime that has been planned previously and then carried out in keeping with this plan. One of the goals of the Russian-claimed ‘peace operation’ was to make hostage over 200 thousand ethnic Georgians.

Moscow has decisively chosen ethnic cleansing as an instrument for achieving its own political aims.

Timeline for 19th August, to 14:50

The information below is accurate to the best of our knowledge, but is subject to verification.

19 AUGUST

14:50 Russian troops started movement from Gomi in Sachkhere direction. Local population blocked the road.

13:50 Russians troops where observed half an hour ago leading 6 blindfolded Georgian POWs and six US owned Hummers to the military base in Senaki from Poti. Hummers belonging to American military participated in US-Georgian military exercise “Immediate Response 2008” held in Georgia on 15th-31st of July 2008.

12:30 On the railroad in Gomi, 100 kms from Tbilisi, Russians have loaded blocks of concrete on rails, thus creating another obstacle for re-launch of West-East traffic.

09:00 According today’s Russian media, Government of Russia closed borders with Azerbaijan and Georgia for foreigners, except CIS citizens. Decree from 12th of August ^no592, was signed by Prime Minister Putin.

01:00 20 Georgian police entered Poti for protection of the commercial port. At 08:30 Russian militaries entered the port, disarmed Georgian soldiers and captured them.

Georgia's withdrawal from CIS

On 14 August 2008 the Parliament of Georgia adopted resolutions terminating with respect to Georgia the Agreement on the Creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States of 8 December 1991, Charter of the Commonwealth of Independent States approved by decision of 22 January 1993 of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Agreement on the Creation of Economic Union of 24 September 1993.

On 18 August 2008 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia sent a note to the CIS Executive Committee notifying it of the aforesaid resolutions of the Parliament of Georgia and Georgia’s withdrawal from CIS.

Georgia hereby renounces all obligations related to its membership of CIS as of 18 August 2008. At the same time, in compliance with the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, all multilateral international treaties concluded within CIS and all decisions adopted by CIS respective agencies, which Georgia agreed to be bound by, will remain in force with respect to Georgia.

Russians block main highway

As a result of Russian aggression against Georgia, the main highway of Georgia (M-27) has been kept closed by the occupation forces of the Russian Federation for several days. They have also blocked the seaport in Poti and blasted the segment of the main railway line at Kaspi. This measure is aimed at economic isolation of Georgia and impeding connection between its regions. The transit traffic is temporarily halted and the import limited, as a result of which innocent population suffers.

Even though the Government of Georgia has sufficient economic and financial resources at its disposal to overcome these problems, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to draw the attention of the international community to the fact that the Government of the Russian Federation is using military means at hand to enclose Georgia with economic blockade.

Witnessing these actions, it should be absolutely obvious to the international community that the Russian Federation chose destruction of economy with the use of military force as an instrument for implementing its foreign policy.

Statement of The Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources of Georgia

To all Foreign Diplomatic Representations in Georgia

To UNDP

To OSCE

To USAID

To KfW

To PAN Parks Organization

To the World Bank

To the GEF

To IUCN International

To WWF International

To CENN

To GCCW

The Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources of Georgia urgently tries to attract the attention of all relevant international organizations to the dramatic situation created in Georgia with regard to the forest burning in several regions of the country as a result of Russian bombing, particularly in Borjomi region, where unique forests are burning creating danger also to Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park which is situated in immediate proximity to these forests.

On August 15, after the attack of Russian military forces' helicopters, fire started in the Borjomi region forests affecting some part of Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. Since Saturday (August 16) we have been trying to put out the fire in Borjomi region forests, but almost 200 ha of unique forest is already burnt. The aim was to create an ecological catastrophe in the country.

All local recourses: fire brigades, Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park stuff, Environment Inspectorate and local communities are involved in putting out the fire. The situation is quite dramatic since fire has caused great losses in biodiversity.

Since the morning of the eighteenth of August fire fighting aircraft from Turkey are already assisting to put out the fire. While the Ukraine and Azerbaijan, both are ready to do the same. Fire engines and fire brigades from Tbilisi are ready to enter the region, but highway from the capital of Georgia to Gori-Borjomi direction is under the Russian military forces control.

To avoid ecological catastrophe in the region we are calling all interested organizations' attention to react to the situation in Borjomi region.

The Ministry is asking for your help to convince Russian to open air and terrestrial corridor, which would let fire fighting aircraft, fire engines and fire brigades enter the Borjomi District and make possible putting out the fire there.

RF delays in the withdrawal of its military forces

On 18 August 2008 the Russian occupation forces re-entered the territory of the Senaki military base and started exploding the available infrastructure.

Furthermore, over several days the Russian military forces continue installing landmines on the territories, bridges adjacent to the cities of Gori, Khashuri, Senaki, Poti and Zugdidi.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia declares that by its actions, along with persistent delay in the withdrawal of its forces from Georgia, the Russian side is gravely violating the conditions provided for by the peace accord signed by the presidents of Georgia, France and the Russian Federation, according to which the Russian side should have immediately ceased all military activities in Georgia and withdrawn all of its military units from the Georgian territory.

RF chose destruction of economy with the use of military force and ethnic cleansing

As it was indicated in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia dated 13 August 2008, representatives of Abkhazia’s separatist authorities profited from the escalated situation in the Tskhinvali region and, in violation of all agreements and treaties signed up to this day and with the assistance of Russian invaders, occupied Upper Abkhazia and conducted a mass cleansing of the region’s ethnic Georgian population.

The Russian Federation’s troops have gone beyond the security zone. Currently there are approximately 9,000 Russian servicemen and their hardware and military equipment stationed in Abkhazia’s adjacent Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region and Poti. Divisions of the occupation army are looting state buildings and population, mining and exploding bridges, transport and economic infrastructure.

Military and civilian vessels have been sunk in the Poti port, warehouses – robbed, docks – exploded. Exact amount of damage is difficult to calculate due to the presence of armed invaders in the region.

Russian ‘peacekeepers’ have not even tried to prevent the movement of Abkhazian separatists thus violating their mandated obligations, which were affirmed already on 10 August 2008 by the UN Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Edmond Mulet at an emergency session of the UN Security Council held in New York.

It needs to be emphasized that such actions of the Abkhaz separatists and Russian ‘peacekeepers’ represent a gross violation of the 1994 Moscow Agreement on Ceasefire and Separation of Forces and all resolutions on the existing situation in Abkhazia, Georgia adopted by the UN Security Council.

Both the Russian Federation and representatives of Abkhazia’s separatist authorities call on the Georgian side for compliance with the agreement, which they have themselves ‘trampled’ without the slightest hesitation.

It is absolutely obvious to the international community that the Russian Federation chose destruction of economy with the use of military force and ethnic cleansing as an instrument for implementing its foreign policy.

Official Statement on War Prisoners' Exchange

The Russian side spreads information that the Georgian side failed negotiations on exchanging the war prisoners'. This is obviously false accusation.

The Georgian side has confirmed several times its readiness on immediate exchanging of war prisoners according to the principle All to All. But unfortunately, the Russian side refuses to fulfill this principle.

The list of war prisoners handed by the Russian side is controversial and unclear. Some of those persons registered in the list had been already released for a long time. The most important is that according to the clarified information the number of Georgian war prisoners is much more.

Once more we confirm our readiness on immediate exchange of war prisoners according to the principle All to All.

Map of Russian military units in Georgia

Timeline for 18th August, to 18:30

The information below is accurate to the best of our knowledge, but is subject to verification.

18 AUGUST

18:30 Russian armored vehicles have moved from Igoeti to the village of Odzisi south of Akhalgori.

17:30 Russian military plane entered Georgian airspace from North near Stefantsminda (Kasbegi). It flew towards Jinvali dam, overflew it and returned.

17:30 Georgian police check point attacked by Russian Military near Igoeti. Tanks run over police cars.

Russian armored vehicles began movement from Igoeti towards Akhalgori. On the checkpoint of Georgian police they crashed police cars and continued their movement towards Akhalgori.

16:00 Russian military are exploding barracks and other installations of the Senaki military base.

13:00 Russian Troops start movement towards Sachkhere and Borjomi.

11:00 Russian Troops Blocked Road near Kaspi Again.

Bombing chronology

August 12, 2008

(43) 09.30-10.55 Bombing of Gori (Central Square and Market).

August 11, 2008

(42) 07:15 Senaki airport runway and Senaki military base were bombed by Russian jets.
(41) 06:10 Gori tank battalion is bombed. A civilian apartment building nearby has been hit.
(40) 05:00 Shiraki airfield in Dedoplistskaro District on the east of the country is bombed by Russian jets.
(39) 04:37 Civilian radar station in the village of Leninisi in 5 kilometers from downtown Tbilisi was partially destroyed by Russian jet.
(38) 04:30 The Central Command Center of Georgian Air Forces was bombed.
(37) 03:26 Russian jets bombed Kodori Gorge (Upper Abkhazia).
(36) 03:12 Territory adjustment to military base in Khelvachauri (near Georgian-Turkish border) was bombed.
(35) 03:05 Villages of Sharabidzeebi, Kapandichi and Makho near Batumi (Georgian-Turkish border) were bombed by Russian planes. Graveyard and villagers’ backyard have been hit. No casualties reported.
(34) 00:31 Russian jets bombed Kodori Gorge (Upper Abkhazia).
(33) 00:30 Civilian radar station in the village of Shavshvebi west of Gori is bombed by Russian planes.

August 10, 2008

(32) 20:25 Two jets bombed Kodori Gorge (Upper Abkhazia).
(31) 19:35 Two jets bombed Senaki (West Georgia).
(30) 19:10 "Tbilaviamsheni" aviation factory was bombarded by Russian aviation again.
(29) 19:05 Russian aviation dropped bomb on Tbilisi Civil Airport.
(28) 16:10 Russian aviation bombarded only remaining bridge on the Highway linking eastern and western parts of the country. There was a fire on the bridge. Fire is extinguished. The traffic is restored.
(27) 16:05 Gori is being bombed by Russian aviation.
(26) 15:10 Russian troops and Abkhaz separatists launch ground attack on Upper Abkhazia. The region is being bombed by Russian aviation.
(25) 15:00 Russian aircrafts bomb the village of Knolevi in the northern Kareli district.
(24) 11:15 The village of Shavshvebi between Gori and Kareli have been bombed by Russian aviation.
(23) 08:45 Ten Russian jets attack Upper Abkhazia. One jet has been downed by Georgian Government troops.
(22) 07:40 Russian jets bomb village of Urta in Zugdidi district.
(21) 05:45 Russian jet entered Georgian airspace from Dagestan and dropped 3 Bombs on Tbilisi airplane factory.

August 9, 2008

(20) 22:30 Russian air forces bombarded Chkhalta, administrative center of Upper Abkhazia. No Casualties reported.
(19) 16:35 Oni was bombarded by Russian aviation.
(18) 14:00 Russian air force attack Upper Abkhazia (Kodori gorge) in several places, including the airdrome in the village of Omarishara.
(17) 12:40 Kopitnari airdrome is bombed again.
(16) 10:22 Russian air force continues to bomb Gori, located 60 kilometers northwest from Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone.
(15) 10:00 Russian air force bomb Kopitnari airdrome in several kilometers from Kutaisi.
(14) 01:20 Gatchiani in the Gardabani districts was bombarded, which is 20 kilometers southeast of Tbilisi and outside the conflict zone and is also close to the BTC pipeline, but the pipeline is not damaged.
(13) 01:00 Poti was bombarded a second time, which is located on the Black Sea coast, 260 kilometers west from Tbilisi, is outside the conflict zone and is a pure civilian target.
(12) 00:20 Vaziani airfield is bombed again, which is 2-3 kilometers from Tbilisi International Airport and is located outside the conflict zone. Two air bombs didn’t explode.
(11) 00:17 Lightening bombs are dropped on Senaki military base, which is 213 kilometers west of Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone. 1 serviceman and 5 reservists were reported killed. The railway station in Senaki is also bombed and eight are killed.
(10) 00:12 Poti port, which is located on the Black Sea coast, 260 kilometers west from Tbilisi, is outside the conflict zone and is a pure civilian target, is bombed heavily. One hydrographic vessel has been sunk.

August 8, 2008

(9) 18:45 Georgian Gori artillery brigade is bombarded by 5 Russian airplanes.
(8) 17:35 Marneuli military airbase, 20 kilometers south of Tbilisi and outside the conflict zone, is bombed for the third time resulting in 1 death and 4 injured. As a result of three bombings, three grounded AN-2 type planes and military vehicles stationed there are destroyed.
(7) 17:00 Marneuli military airbase is bombed for the second time causing casualties.
(5)(6) 16.30 Russian aviation bombs Marneuli and Bolnisi military airbases, 20 kilometers and 35 kilometers south of Tbilisi respectively. Two aircrafts were destroyed on ground. Also several buildings were destroyed and there are casualties.
(4) 15:05 Russian military plane enters Georgia from the direction of Tedzami, just south of Gori, and drop two bombs on the Vaziani military airport and turned back.
(3) 10:57 Two of the six Russian aircraft drop three bombs in Gori. One of these fell near the stadium, the second near Gorijvari slope and third near a artillery brigade.
(2) 10:30 Russian Su-24 bombs the village of Variani in the Kareli district, 75 kilometers west of Tbilisi and outside the conflict zone. Seven civilians were injured as a result.
(1) 09:45 A Russian military fighter plane drops about 3-5 bombs near the village of Shavshvebi, on the highway between Poti and Tbilisi and is 300-500 meters from Georgian military radar.

Timeline for August 17th, to 19:30

17 August

19:30 More bridges mined by Russian Military in Kaspi district
Russian soldiers are mining two local bridges in Kaspi district.

16:30 Supsa oil terminal approached by Russian armored vehicle
One Russian armored vehicle approaches the Supsa oil terminal on the Black Sea coast.

14:05 Russians are mining roads in Svaneti
Russian troops are mining the road and bridges south of Mestia, Svaneti region.

13:25 Russian military helicopters land in Senaki
Eight Russian military helicopters have landed at the Senaki military base.

11:30 Russians withdraw from Senaki base
Russian troops left Senaki base and are moving towards the entrance of villages Rekha and Menji nearby.

11:25 More Ossetian militants enter the town of Akhalgori, 40kms Northwest from Tbilsi
According to information received from the head of administration of Akhalgori district, another 60 Ossetian militants have entered the town of Akhalgori.

10:45 Russian troops enter Senaki military base once again
21 Ural type Russian military tracks and 4 armored vehicles accompanied by 1 helicopter have entered Senaki military base.

Russian disinformation regarding Gori

Russian information agencies quoted today an unnamed source at the Ministry of Defence of Russia as saying, that “according to the existing reconnaissance an armed group consisting of Georgians, Ukrainian nationalists and Chechen terrorists now in Georgia is planned to be set up near city of Gori. They will be handed over the Russian military uniforms and sent to the city, where they will start looting and humiliate the local population”. According to the same unknown source “all this will be filmed on video cameras and distributed to world society as “brutality of Russian soldiers”.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia declares that Russian Federation continues to spread deliberate disinformation by the help of state controlled Russian information agencies and intends to conceal its own aggression.

As far as the Georgian territories near city of Gori are completely under control of the Russian occupation forces, this kind of information in its meaning could contain only the premeditated Russian provocation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls upon the international society not to be misled with the disinformation spread by the Russian information agencies.

Timeline of Events - Russians Invasion & Occupation of Georgia

As of 21:30, August 16, 2008, 21:30

The information below is accurate to the best of our knowledge,
but is subject to verification.

1 AUGUST

A pickup truck carrying six Georgian police officers is blown up by separatists.
• At 08:00, a pickup truck carrying six Georgian police officers is hit by two remote-control explosive devices on the Eredvi-Kheiti bypass road linking Georgia proper with the Didi Liakhvi Gorge, a Georgian enclave north of the breakaway region’s capital Tskhinvali. Five of the six Georgian policemen are severely wounded.
• The Government of Georgia decides not to retaliate in order not to escalate the situation.

2 AUGUST

Six civilians and one Georgian policeman are injured by gunfire coming from South Ossetian territory controlled by Russian peacekeepers.
• Six civilians and one Georgian policeman are injured by gunfire coming from South Ossetian territory controlled by Russian peacekeepers, following the shelling of Georgian villages in the South Ossetian conflict zone overnight.
• The Georgian-controlled villages of Zemo Nikozi, Kvemo Nikozi, Nuli, Avnevi, Eredvi, and Ergneti come under intense fire from the South Ossetian separatists with large-caliber mortars.
• Georgian law enforcers initially shoot back in self-defense, but are soon ordered to cease fire in order not to escalate the situation.

3 AUGUST

The separatist government of South Ossetia begins evacuating civilians.A
• At 12:00, the South Ossetian separatist government announces the evacuation of more than 500 people, including about 400 children. However, Ermak Dzansolov, deputy prime minister of Russia’s North Ossetian Republic, tells Russia’s Interfax news agency that this is not in fact an evacuation. He explains that the children had long planned to attend a summer-camp program in North Ossetia.
• Russian media outlets, meanwhile, launch a massive propaganda campaign to whip up public sentiment against Georgia.
• At 13:00, the South Ossetian separatist government calls for the mobilization of volunteers across the North Caucasus.

4 & 5 AUGUST

Throughout both days, separatist forces in territories controlled by Russian peacekeepers fire on villages inhabited by ethnic Georgians loyal to the pro-Georgian South Ossetia government. No casualties are reported.

6 AUGUST

16:00. Separatists reject plea for negotiations and refuse to meet with Georgia’s envoy for conflict resolution, Temur Yakobashvili, who has traveled to Tskinvali to meet with them.
• Temur Yakobashvili, Georgia’s chief negotiator and its state minister for reintegration, says in late-night televised remarks that the Georgian government is seeking a direct dialogue with the separatist authorities in order to reverse the deteriorating security situation. Mr. Yakobashvili says that Russia’s Ambassador-at-large Yuri Popov would attend the talks as a facilitator. The South Ossetian chief negotiator, Boris Chochiev, refuses to take part in any negotiations.

20:00. South Ossetian para-militaries open mortar fire on villages inhabited by ethnic Georgians.
• Separatists open mortar fire on Georgian populated villages of Eredvi, Prisi, Avnevi, Dvani, and Nuli. Georgian government forces fire back in order to defend their positions and the civilian population.
• As a result of intensive cross-fire during the night, two servicemen of the Georgian battalion of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces are injured. The separatist regime also claims several of their forces are hurt.
• Despite these provocative, targeted attacks on peaceful civilians and on Georgian police and peacekeeping forces, the Government of Georgia decides not to respond with heavy fire, in order not to injure civilians.

7 AUGUST

09:00. South Ossetian separatist government leader threatens to “clean Georgians out” from the region.
• In a morning interview with Russian news agencies, South Ossetian de facto president Eduard Kokoity declares that if the Georgian government does not withdraw its military forces from the region, he would start “to clean them out.” The Georgian military forces to which he refers are peacekeepers who are legally present in the South Ossetia conflict zone.

09:45. A Russian military jet drops bombs near a Georgian military radar based 30 kilometers outside of the conflict zone.
• According to local civilian witnesses, at about 09.45, a fighter plane, presumed to be Russian (it enters Georgia from the South Ossetian conflict zone) drops 3-5 bombs near the village of Shavshvebi, approximately 300-500 meters from the location of a Georgian military radar.

15:00. For the second time in two days, the separatist government of South Ossetia refuses to negotiate with Georgian envoy Temur Yakobashvili, who again travels to Tskhinvali to plead for peace.
• Yakobashvili visits the conflict zone in the morning of August 7 to meet with representatives of the separatist government. The separatists refuse to meet or negotiate with him. Instead, Yakobashvili confers in Tskhinvali with Marat Kulakhmetov, commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces.

16:00. Three Georgian servicemen from the Georgian peacekeeping battalion are injured by paralimitary troops.
• Separatist militia resume shelling the Georgian villages of Nuli and Avnevi.
• Three Georgian servicemen are injured after the South Ossetian separatist forces blow up an infantry combat vehicle belonging to the Georgian peacekeeping battalion in Avnevi.
• Georgian police respond by firing towards the separatist militia in the village of Khetagurovo, where two separatist militiamen are killed and two more wounded.
• Later, the Georgian peacekeeping checkpoint in Avnevi is bombed and several Georgian servicemen and civilians are killed.

18:30. The President of Georgia announces a unilateral cease fire.
• Georgia announces a unilateral ceasefire in an attempt by the Government to defuse tensions. Temur Yakobashvili, the Georgian state minister for reintegration and envoy for conflict resolution, says at a press conference at 18:40 that he is continually seeking to contact the separatist authorities, but without success.

20:00. President Saakashvili calls on Russia to recall those of its officials who are members of the South Ossetia separatist government.
• President Saakashvili, speaking with journalists at the military hospital in Gori (where he is visiting two injured Georgian servicemen), reaffirms that despite the deadly attacks on Georgian villages, the Government of Georgia is showing maximum restraint. The President also calls on Russia to “to recall its officials” from South Ossetia, who are members of the so-called South Ossetian government.

20:30. Despite Georgia’s unilateral cease-fire, the village of Avnevi in the South Ossetia conflict zone— inhabited by ethnic Georgians— is totally destroyed by mortar fire.
• Despite Georgia’s unilateral ceasefire, the Georgian village of Avnevi again comes under fire from South Ossetian militiamen. The village is totally destroyed.

21:00. The Security Council of the separatist government threatens to employ Russian Cossack mercenary troops fight Georgian peacekeepers.
• The chairman of the separatist republic’s Security Council, Anatoly Barankevich, says that armed Cossack militia from North Ossetia are heading towards South Ossetia to fight Georgian peacekeepers.

22:30. Separatist paramilitaries attack the Georgian-controlled village of Prisi, leaving several civilians wounded.

23:30. Heavy shelling by separatist forces destroy Georgian police stations on the administrative border of South Ossetia.
• Separatist authorities open fire on all Georgian checkpoints around the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali at about 23:30, including those located near the villages of Tamarasheni and Kurta. The police stations in the Georgian Kurta is destroyed as a result of heavy shelling.

23:30. 100 Russian armored vehicles and Russian troops invade Georgia, crossing the Roki Tunnel from Russia into Georgia
• The Government of Georgia receives reliable information from three separate sources that approximately 100 armored vehicles and trucks of the Russian armed forces, filled with Russian soldiers, are passing from Russia over the border of Georgia through the Roki Tunnel and are heading towards Tskhinvali. The Russian Federation is thus directly violating the sovereignty of Georgia, as these new forces are regular Russian military and not peacekeepers.

8 AUGUST

Early morning. South Ossetian paramilitaries and Russian peacekeepers direct heavy fire on Georgian peacekeepers.
• intensive fire emanates from the Ossetian villages of Khetagurovo, Dmenisi, Sarabuki, and Ubiat. Separatist authorities continue shelling Georgian police and peacekeeping units with mortars and artillery. The Government of Georgia orders its forces to return only limited fire in order to defend their positions.

04:28. For the first time, and in response to the entry of Russian armed forces into Georgian sovereign territory, Georgian military (as opposed to Georgian peacekeepers) enter the conflict zone.
• Georgian government forces take control of six villages in the Tskhinvali region: Muguti, Dmenisi, Didmukha, Okona, Akut, and Kohati and enter the village of Khetagurovo.

05:30. Additional Russian troops enter Georgia through the Roki Tunnel in South Ossetia. They pass Java, cross the Gufta Bridge, and advance one the Dzara road towards Tskhinvali.

08:00. Russian troops on the Gufta Bridge, connecting Djava and Tskhinvali, are the targets of a Georgian aerial bombardment.
• Later, two more groups of Russian troops enter South Ossetia through the Roki Tunnel, which connects Russia and Georgia, but cannot cross the Gufta Bridge, which has been destroyed; they advance instead by the Geri-Dmenisi road.

09:00. Georgian forces control the villages of Gromi, Artsevi, Tsinagara, Znauri, Sarabuki, Khetagurovo, Atotsi, Kvemo Okuna, Dmenisi, Muguti, and Didmukha.

09.45. A Russian military fighter plane bombs a Georgian military radar that lies 30 kilometers outside of the conflict zone.

10.30. Seven civilians are injured by bombs dropped by Russian Su-24 fighter jets on the village of Variani in the Kareli district, 75 kilometers west of Tbilisi and 20 kilometers outside of the conflict zone.

10.50. Six Russian Su-24 fighter jets enter Georgia from the Russian Federation.

10:57. Russian aircraft drop three bombs on the town of Gori, well outside of the conflict zone.
• One bomb falls near the Gori stadium, a second near the Gorijvari slope, and a third near an artillery brigade.

11:45. The emergency service of the Civil Aviation Authority reports receiving a signal from what is presumed to be a Russian fighter plane that has crashed near the Iuri range, 17 kilometers south of Gori.

11.45 Four Su-24 Russian fighter jets enter Georgia.
• Four Su-24 Russian fighter jet enter Georgia from the direction of Stepantsminda (Kazbeg), northeast of the Roki Tunnel and outside of the conflict zone. Two of them pass Tbilisi and circle around Marneuli, south of Tbilisi. The other two circle above Gudauri, north of Tbilisi.


12.05. A Russian Su-24 fighter jet enters Georgian air pace from Russia and remains over Tskhinvali until 12.15.

13:00. Part of Tskhinvali comes under the control of the Georgian army and fighting continues in the center of the city.

14.15. The Government of Georgia announces a three-hour ceasefire.
• The Georgian government announces a ceasefire from 15.00 till 18.00 to allow civilians to leave Tskhinvali. The Government of Georgia offers the separatists full amnesty and humanitarian aid if they surrender.

14.30. Georgian government forces control Tskhinvali; resistance comes from small militia groups.

15:05. A Russian airplane bombs Vaziani airfield on the outskirts of Tbilisi.
• A Russian bomber enters Georgia from the direction of Tedzami, just south of Gori, and drops two bombs on the Vaziani military airport.

16:00. Georgian servicemen surround the village of Znauri near Tskhinvali.
• About 40 police officers and reservists are trapped in Znauri school.

16.30. Russia bombs Georgian airfields south of Tbilisi.
• Russian planes bomb the Marneuli and Bolnisi military airbases, 20 kilometers and 35 kilometers south of Tbilisi respectively. Two Georgian aircraft are destroyed on ground, as are several buildings. There are numerous casualties.

17:00. The Georgian airbase at Marneuli, 20 kilometers from Tbilisi and outside the conflict zones, is bombed again, causing casualties.

17:35. Marneuli airbase bombed for a third time.
• The Marneuli airbase is bombed for a third time, resulting in 1 death and 4 injured. As a result of the three bombings, three AN-2 type planes and several military vehicles are destroyed.

18:32. Georgian villages come under Russian aerial and artillery fire.
• Frone Gorge, northeast of Tskinvali, comes under intensive artillery fire from Russian forces. The villages of Avnevi and Phrisi, in the Tskinvali region, are bombarded by Russian military aircraft.

18:44. Russian ground forces of the 58th Army attack Tskhinvali.
• A column of Russian tanks, armored vehicles, and trucks reach Tskinvali by the Dzara bypass road, 2 kilometers west of Tskhinvali. Russian forces open intensive fire on Georgian forces located in Tskhinvali and on neighboring heights. A second column, also having come from Russia via the Roki Tunnel, is stopped near the Georgian government-controlled area of Dmenisi, 7 kilometers north of Tskinvali. Russian forces open heavy fire on Georgian forces.

18:45. Five Russian airplanes bomb Georgian artillery brigade in Gori.

19:18. Georgian forces down Russian jet near Tskhinvali, one of 5 planes shot down during the day.

19:20. Russian jets pass over the town of Ambrolauri, outside of the conflict zone, 170 kilometers northwest of Tbilisi.

20:30. Georgian troops withdraw from Tskhinvali.
• After severe clashes, Georgian forces start to withdraw from the center of the town, holding their positions at its southern outskirts. Russian tanks enter the eastern part of Tskhinvali.

22:40. According to the data of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia Russian planes violated Georgian airspace a total of 22 times during the day.

9 August

00:12. Russians bomb vital port of Poti.
• Black Sea Poti port, 260 kilometers west from Tbilisi, outside the conflict zone, purely civilian infrastructure, is bombed heavily.

00:17. Russian air force attacks railway station and military base in town of Senaki.
• Railway station in Senaki is bombed and eight reported killed. Lightening bombs dropped on Senaki military base, 213 kilometers west of Tbilisi, outside the conflict zone. 1 serviceman and 5 reservists were reported killed.

00:20 Russia bombs an airfield in the outskirts of Tbilisi.
• Vaziani military airfield, 2-3 kilometers from Tbilisi International Airport outside the conflict zone, is bombed again.

01:00 Russian jets continue bombing of Poti port
• Poti port bombed for the second time.

01:20 Russian jets drop bombs close to BTC pipeline.
• Gatchiani, Gardabani district, 20 kilometers south-east of Tbilisi, close to the BTC pipeline, bombed. Pipeline not damaged.

10:00 Russian jets bomb Georgian airfields as Russian ground forces launch massive invasion of the country.
• Russian air force bombed Kopitnari airdrome, few kilometers from Kutaisi. 58th Russian Army, positioned in the North Caucasus, enters South Ossetian region. They engaged in battles with the Georgian army in Tskhinvali, 92 kilometers northwest from Tbilisi.

10:20 Russian jet shot down over Gori.
• One more Russian military airplane is shot down in Gori, 60 kilometers northwest from Tbilisi, outside the conflict zone. Pilot captured.

10:22 Russian air force continues to bomb Gori


12:40 Russia bombs airfield near Kutaisi in Western Georgia.
• Kopitnari airport runway bombed again.

14:00 Russian aviation attacks Georgian airfield in Upper Abkhazia.
• Russian air force attacks Upper Abkhazia (Kodori gorge) in several places, including the airdrome.

14:30 Parliament approves President’s Ordinance on Declaration of State of War and general mobilization.

15:45 Abkhaz separatist leader Sergey Bagapsh announces launching of Upper Abkhazia shelling.

16:05 Four Russian jets overfly Upper Abkazia.

16:15 Russia sends navy to the Georgian coast.
• Two Russian battleships are heading towards Poti port.

16:35 Town of Oni, north of Georgia, outside conflict zone, bombed by Russian aviation.

16:40 Russian Navy prevents Moldovan Cargo Ship “Lotus – 1” carrying wheat from entering Poti Port.

19:45 Tskhinvali is under control of Georgian regular troops.

22:30 Russian air force bombs Chkhalta, administrative centre of Upper Abkhazia.
• Russian air force bombs Chkhalta, administrative centre of Upper Abkhazia. No casualties reported.

10 August

Early morning 6,000 Russian troops enter Georgia through Roki tunnel: 90 tanks, 150 Armored Personnel Carriers, 250 artillery gunships. 4,000 Russian troops land at port of Ochamchire in Abkhazia, from Black Sea port of Sevastopol.

05:45 Tbilisi airplane factory bombed.
• Russian jet enters Georgian airspace from Dagestan and drops three bombs near Tbilisi airplane factory.

07:00 Georgian Government Forces withdraw from Tskhinvali.

07:40 Russian jets bomb village of Urta in Zugdidi district.

08:45 Ten Russian jets attack Upper Abkhazia. One jet downed by Georgian troops.

14.00 Turkish TV crew attacked near Gori. Journalist wounded.

15:00 Russian airplanes bomb Knolevi village in the northern Kareli district on the main highway of the country.

15:10 Russian troops and Abkhaz separatists launch joint ground attack on Upper Abkhazia, supported by Russian aviation.

16:05 Gori bombed by Russian aviation.

16:10 Russia bombs a bridge on the central highway connecting Eastern and western parts of the country.
• Russian aviation bombed the only remaining bridge on the highway linking eastern and western parts of the country. Bridge on fire.

Afternoon
Russia establishes rules for Journalists’ access to the conflict zones
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation announces journalists required to have special accreditation from Ministry of Defense of RF and second accreditation from MFA of RF to enter Russian-Georgian conflict zone.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia - Mr. Karasin announces terms of ceasefire.


17:30 Georgian MFA hands diplomatic note on cease fire to Russian Embassy.

• Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hands diplomatic note to the Charge d’affaires of Russian Embassy Mr. Smag, informing about order of the president Georgia on unilateral cease-fire.

18:00 Russian Airplanes bomb Black Sea town of Anaklia in Zugdidi district.
• Town is located 280 kms from Tbilisi, near the Georgian – Abkhazian conflict zone. No casualties reported.

19:10 Second bombing of the aviation factory in Tbilisi “Tbilaviamsheni” by Russian aviation

Two journalists killed in Tskhinvali.
Journalist of Itar-Tass agency Alexander Klimchuk and Alanya TV editor Giga Chikhladze were taken hostages and murdered. The journalists entered Tskhinvali together with Georgian government forces.

11 August

00:30 Russian aviation bombs radar station near the Tbilisi-Poti highway.
• Civilian radar station in the village of Shavshvebi, west of Tbilisi, destroyed by Russian planes.

03:05 Villages near Batumi bombed by Russian planes.
• Cemetery and fields have been hit. No casualties reported. Villages are close to Georgian – Turkish boarder.

04:37 Civilian radar destroyed.
• Radar station located on Makhata mountain, 5 kilometers from downtown Tbilisi bombed by Russian planes

05:00 Russian aviation bombs Shiraki airfield in Kakheti Region, east of Tbilisi
• Shiraki airfield in Dedoplistskaro District close to Azerbaijanee boarder is one of the biggest airfields of Georgian aviation in the eastern part of the country.

06:10 Gori was bombed. Civilian apartment buildings were destroyed.

07:15 Senaki airport 230 kms from Tbilisi and main airfield of Georgian aviation in Western Georgia bombed by Russian airplanes.

10:00 Georgian village of Eredvi near Tskhinvali under fire of Russian artillery.

12:05 Russian Aviation attacks Georgian positions in Kodori Gorge.

• Russian aviation bombs Georgian servicemen in Upper Abkhazia, Kodori Gorge. Kodori gorge is the only territory controlled by Government of Georgia in Abkhazia.

13:30 President of Georgia agrees to sign ceasefire agreement.
• President Saakashvili agrees to sign ceasefire agreement, prepared by the foreign ministers of France, Finland and Georgia.

14:30 Senaki base bombed by Russian aviation.

17:00 Russian troops occupy Zugdidi
• Russian peacekeepers armed with heavy weaponry enter Zugdidi and occupy administrative buildings.

17:30 Russian Aviation bombs village Kere of Gori District.

18:20 Separatists occupy villages, take hostages
• Ossetian separatists enter village Beloti near Eredvi. They take hostage remaining civilian population and lock them in a local church.

18:10 Russian troops attack and occupy village Shindisi of Gori district.

19:00 A camp for IDPs set up in Tbilisi.

19:30 Russian troops advance deeper into Georgian territory from west and enter Senaki 210 Km away from Tbilisi, outside of the conflict zone.

20:10 Russian army units move towards city Gori.

20:26 Russians prevent Georgian ships from entering Georgian port
• Ministry of Economic Development is being notified that cargo ships “Castor” and “Asha” are prevented from entering Poti Port by Russian military forces.

20:30 Russian Army occupies Gori and cuts main highway connecting Western and Eastern parts of the country.

12 August

02:05 Russia bombs Kaspi, city outside conflict zone
• Russian aviation bombs Kaspi, 30 km from Tbilisi. 3 bombs dropped near the German owned Heidelberg Cement factory, one of the two cement factories in the country.

07:00 Russian airplanes bomb village of Tkviavi near Tskhinvali .

10:15 Russians bomb Gori, civilians killed, including one journalist
• Russian jets bomb the city of Gori, including the territory around administration building, hospital, and university and city market. 5 civilians died including one child and a doctor of the hospital, 15 injured. Cameraman Stan Storimans of Dutch TV killed. Filios Ftangos, journalist from a Greek TV channel and his driver wounded.

12:25 TBC Oil pipeline 5 km from the city of Rustavi bombed by Russian jets. No damage to the pipeline.

12:30 Vaziani base close to Tbilisi bombed by Russian planes.

13:25 Three Russian airplanes drop bombs on the village of Orchosani near Gori.

14:00 An ambulance vehicle targeted by Russian military bombs in village Agara (Khashuri region).

14:50 Village Sakoritno in Kaspi region and village Ruisi in Kareli region bombed by Russian jets.

15.00. Russian soldiers destroy and rob Georgian Coast Guard
• Georgian Coast Guard command centre attacked by Russian troops three times. Equipment taken away or destroyed. The Georgian Coast Guard vessels damaged.

16:30 Russian troops destroy Gori TV broadcasting station, killing an employee
• Russian troops enter Gori TV broadcasting station. One employee killed and three injured, equipment of the TV station destroyed. The only Georgian, Russian-language TV station “Alanya” is out of air. The region can not receive Georgian Public Broadcasting channel as well.

17:30 Abkhazian troops mobilize heavy armored vehicles in demilitarized zone in village of Ganmukhuri and organize customs checkpoint.

18:00 The shareholders of Kulevi Terminal threatened by Russian troops possible bombing of the oil terminal.

18:00 Russian airplane drop 4 bombs in the village Tkotsa, Khashuri district. None of them exploded.

18:00 Russian soldiers attack Georgian navy, blasted Georgian ships harbored in Poti port.

18:30. Cases of ethnic cleansing in Georgian villages
• South Ossetian separatists enter villages Disevi and Karaleti, in Gori district and committ acts of ethnic cleansing, burning houses and attacking population. Russian soldiers witness and do not react.

19:10. Russian troops occupy Upper Abkhazia
• Russian troops move towards Khaishi, Svanetia north of Zugdidi, occupy the territory.

21:35 Cases of ethnic cleansing in Georgian villages of Gori district
• Ossetian separatists brutally massacring Georgian population.
• Georgian population of villages Kordi and Mereti, Gori district brutally assaulted and abused by Ossetian separatists. In Tkviavi, Gori district, Ossetian separatists are assaulting local Georgian residents.

21:50 Robbery of the Senaki military base.
• Senaki military base ravaged by Russian troops. Equipment and arms taken or destroyed by Russians.

22: 52 Three foreign Journalists in Karaleti, Gori district robbed, car taken.

23:12 Villages of Berbuki, Rakha, Sveneti, Kheltubani, Karaleti in Gori district ravaged by Russian Army. Journalist of Tel-Aviv Newspaper was wounded.

13 August

01.05 Civilians taken hostages in Georgian villages
• Georgian residents of villages Nikozi, Dzveri, Tkviavi, Karaleti (north of Gori) taken hostages by Ossetian separatists. Population of village Berbuki, Gori District gathered on the road, asking to be evacuated.

06:50 bombing of Saqasheti in Gori district
• Two bombs dropped by Russian aviation in village Saqasheti, Gori district. One did not explode.

08:00 Abuse of civilians in Karaleti
• The village of Karaleti, Gori district attacked by Ossetian separatists. Numerous cases of physical assault and abuse of the local residents reported.

09:12 Murder of civilians
• Four civilian cars with shot passengers found in the village of Tedotsminda, Gori district.

09:20 Russian armored troops (50 units) head towards Gori from Tskhinvali.

10:20 Russian troops re-occupy Gori.

12:00 Russian soldiers destroy the military base of artillery brigade near Gori.

12:35 Cases of kidnapping in Tkviavi
• 25 civilians kidnapped by Ossetian separatists from the village of Tkviavi. The bus, by which the kidnapped civilians have been transported to Tskhinvali, crashed. 4 hostages managed to escape.

13:00 Russian soldiers enter village Atotsi, Kareli district.
• Village of Atotsi, Kareli district, is being ravaged by invaders

13:05 Russian soldiers enter village Pakhulani, Tsalenjikha district.

14:00 In Poti port Russian troops blew up three Georgia Coast Guard vessels.

14:45. Young woman, traveling by mini bus kidnapped.
• Paata Sabelashvili, photographer, reports from highway nearby Gori that Georgian civilians traveling in a mini-bus are robbed by the Ossetian separatists, one of the passengers, 25-year old women kidnapped by the attackers.

15:00 Cases of looting in Gori
Gigi Mtvarelidze, member of Georgian CEC, was robbed by the Russian-speaking paramilitaries nearby Gori. His car taken.

15:15 Georgian civilians leave their homes.
• Georgian population of the Bobnevi, Marana, Dzevera, Khidistavi, Tchalaubani villages escape to the forest from the Ossetian separatists.

15:20 Looting continues in Gori district. The residents are being robbed.

16:10 Russian troops move from the city of Gori towards Tbilisi.

17:00 Russian troops turn to the east – located town Uplistsikhe.

17:15 Atrocities in numerous Georgian villages
• Villages Avnevi, Tseronisi and Knolevi in Kareli district, Khandaki, Doesi and Karaghadi in Kaspi district, Tkviavi in Gori district are ravaged. Witnesses report that a number of residents in the town of Gori are taken hostage.

17: 50 The residents of Gori escape.
• Russian troops and Ossetian separatists are launching brutal attacks on the town of Gori. In large numbers, they are heading towards Tbilisi.

18:00 lootings continues. While passing the troubled areas, the drivers of Turkish Travel Company were robbed by Russian soldiers.

20:12 Georgian population flees Kareli. The population of Breti and Aradeti villages in Kareli district leaves their homes. The deserted and abandoned villages are looted and robbed.

14 August

11:00 Russian troops destroy Georgian military installations in Senaki.

12:00 Additional Russian troops in Zugdidi.

12:00 Russian troops reenter Poti port.
• Russian military occupy the building of Coast Guard and destroy their vessels.

12:05 Canadian journalists robbed in the presence of Russian soldiers.
• Near Gori, 3 journalists of Canadian TV channel CBC, including head of the Moscow office, robbed of their car, equipment and passports. The accident happened in the presence of Russian soldiers, who did not react.


14:00 Russian troops reenter Gori taking the city over again.

14:40 Russian troops move around Gori. Russian troops enter village Mejvriskhevi, Gori district and villages Ruisi and Tsveri, Kareli district.

15:30 Looting in Gori district. Russian troops are looting village Debisi of Gori district.

15:40 Georgian policemen robbed in Kareli district.
• Russian soldiers robbed Georgian policemen of their car nearby village Tokhlaura, Kareli district.

16:00 Israeli journalists robbed in Gori.
• Four Israeli journalists, including Haaretz correspondent Anshel Pfeffer and photographer Nir Kafri, were robbed at gunpointed by Russian soldiers in the city Gori.

16:30 Looting reported in Russian controlled Georgian villages.
• The villages Brotsleti, Mejvriskhevi, Gorijvari of Gori district, and Breti of Kareli district ravaged by South Ossetian separatists.

17:00 A Journalist fired near Gori. A Georgian journalist of GPB TV Company Tamar Urushadze was wounded by direct shot in a hand presumably by sniper during the live broadcast near Gori.

17:30 50 Estonian volunteers arrived in Tbilisi to take part in humanitarian aid.

18:10. Russian General Viacheslav Borisov stated he refuses to assume any responsibility for the lives of the journalists in Gori.

18:30 Looting continues in Russian controlled Georgian villages. Atrocities and acts of looting were reported from villages Agara and Dzevera, Kareli district.

19:10 Russian army strengthens their checkpoints in Zugdidi.
• Russian army deployed additional troops to Zugdidi and began strengthening the checkpoints and positions in and around the town

19:35 German television ZDF journalist witnesses the robbery of Danish journalists.
• South Ossetian separatists robbed Danish journalists of their car and cameras, according to a German journalist.

22:10 Russian troops moving east deep of Georgia.
• About 100 armored vehicles and trucks of Russian army began movement from Zugdidi pass Senaki and continue movement east deep in the country.

23:50 Looting in Russian occupied villages.
• Lootings and abuses of local civilians reported from Russian occupied villages of Ruisi Gori district and Mokhisi Khashuri district.

15 August

Russian Navy continues controlling Georgian Territorial Waters.

07.00. Human Rights Watch reports the use of cluster bombs.
• HRW researchers have uncovered the evidence that Russian aircraft dropped cluster bombs (banned by 107 nations) in populated areas in Georgia during the air attacks from 6th of August, killing at least 11 civilians and injuring dozens.

08:00 Russian troops moving towards second largest city of Georgia, Kutaisi.
• 14 armored vehicles and 4 tracks of Russian military forces left Senaki and moved towards Kutaisi. Currently they are at Abashis Tskali river, 40 kms west from Kutaisi and 10 kms west from Samtredia - the main railway and highway crossroad in western Georgia.

09:20 Russian troops moving towards Gori.
• 71st regiment of 42nd division of 58th Army of Russia moved from Tskhinvali to the village of Ergneti heading towards Gori.

09:30 Russian troops continue moving western.
• 21 Military Tracks full of Russian military began movement from Senaki towards Poti port.

10:30 A journalist robbed in Gori district.
• South Ossetian separatists shot at a vehicle of a freelance journalist Margarita Akhvlediani near village Sagolasheni. The car, camera and other belongings were taken away.

13:00 Russian soldiers detain three journalists in Poti.
• Lasha Berulava, reporter of the radio “Imedi” and Murad Fartcvania, cameraman of the TV company “Odishi” were detained by Russian soldiers in Poti.

15:30 Forests in fire.
• Russian helicopters are overflying Bordjomi-Tsemi forests dropping fire setting engines. There are already from 12 to 15 fire locations. Russian military confirmed flying helicopters over this territory without further comments.

16:10 Cases of kidnapping by Russian soldiers. Russian soldiers kidnapped 4 member of Namgalauri family from village Ghogheti of Kareli district and moved towards Znauri.

17:00 Russian troops began withdrawal from Poti.
• They took with them 8 “Black Shark” boats, 7 A type boats, 2 Coastal Guard vessels and equipment from the buildings of the Coastal Guard in Poti.

18:30 Russian troops moved towards Tbilisi.
• 9 armored vehicles of Russian Army accompanied by 3 Mi-24 helicopters moved towards Tbilisi. They stopped and opened check point near village Igoeti 20 kms from Tbilisi, Kaspi district.

21:00 Russian troops entered Khashuri.
• Russian troops entered Khashuri about 100kms west from Tbilisi and opened checkpoint. About 10 Tanks are in the city. Eyewitnesses report that they terrorize civilians pointing guns to them or tank guns to their cars and houses.


23:30 Russian troops in Khashuri.
• On the east-west highway the Russian troops continued to move west from Khashuri and Surami. As reported by locals, they intruded the houses of the civilians taking food. At this moment, the Russian troops are controlling the Igoeti - Khashuri east-west highway. In both places they have established checkpoints.

16 August

00:30 Abuse of local population.
• The cases of looting and abuse of local civilians committed by separatists in Russian occupied villages of Abisi, Koda, Ptsa – Kareli district have been reported.

08:47 – Russian Army in Karaleti, Gori district.
• The battalion has stopped in the village Karaleti. The group is composed of lots of armored personnel carriers, tanks, army trucks and engineer unit. The staff meeting is taking place. The general joined later arriving by helicopter.

10:15 Russians return to Poti, Black Sea port.
• The Russians, who left the port of Poti yesterday, have returned with four armored personnel carrier, one crane, 10 army trucks (8 Ural, 2 Kamaz) and one army vehicle.

10:15 Tanks in move.
• Ten tanks from Igoeti headed towards Khashuri and seven to Znauri.

10:30 Bombing of Khandaki, Kaspi district.
• Russian aviation has dropped fire setting engines near the village of Khandaki, Kaspi district. The forest near the village is burning.

10:30 Bombing of Okami, Kaspi district.
• Russian aviation has dropped unidentified devices to the vine factory in village Okami, Kaspi district.

10:45 Russian tanks close to Tbilisi.
• Three Russian tanks are stationed in Kaspi and two in Igoeti, halfway between Gori and Tbilisi.

12:30 Main connection of railway in Eastern Georgia was blown.
• Grakali Railroad Bridge in Kaspi district has been blown up by Russian troops.

13:00 Russian troops moving to Western Georgia.
• Two Russian trucks with soldiers have moved through the Rikoti tunnel to the village Khevi, Kharagauli district.

13:20 Russian troops in moving to Gori.
• Russian troops have started moving from Igoeti, Kaspi district towards Gori.

14:30 Russian troops moving to Western Georgia.
• Eight units of Russian armored troops have started movement from Khashuri district towards the town of Sachkhere.

14:40 Forests in fire.
• The Karspi district forestes are in fire after Russian aviation dropped fire setting engines in the area.

16:00 Russian military terminates Turkish and Ukrainian help to down fire in forests.
• Russians denied to provide permission to the Turkish and Ukrainian planes to enter Georgian airspace in order to take part in putting down the fires in the Borjomi district forests. The fires started as a result of dropping of fire setting engines in the area by Russian aviation.

18:20 Russian troops have entered the town of Akhalgori.

18:30 Forests in fire.
• Russian aviation has dropped fire setting engines in the forests around Surami, Khashuri district.

19:30 Russian soldiers put into fire houses in village Gamdlistskaro, Kaspi district.

20:00 Russian passports are distributed in Akhalgori.
• Russian troops have started proposing Russian passports to the local population free of change in Akhalgori district.

21:15 Additional troops in Akhalgori.

Russian army deployed additional 60 cars have at the entrance of town Akhalgori 40 km north-west of Tbilisi.

Russian military aircraft drop fire-setting bombs in Borjomi woods

Russian occupation troops continue to wage their barbaric war against Georgia. Russian military aircraft have dropped fire-setting bombs in the woods of the Borjomi district. Fire has now spread over 40 hectares of wood. Populated areas are also under threat. Unique ecosystem of the Borjomi gorge is being destroyed.

The Georgian Authorities are actively barred by Russian occupation troops from employing the means at their disposal or provided by friend countries to eliminate fire.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls on the international community and international ecological organizations to adopt all measures necessary to prevent Russian occupation troops from causing ecological catastrophe in Georgia.

Russian disinformation

On 16 August the Russian information agencies spread the information that the Georgian Armed Forces have launched an attack on the Russian so called “Peacekeepers” in the conflict zone of Abkhazia and that, as they claim, the full-scaled military operations still continue”.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia declares with full responsibility that the abovementioned represents the recurrent disinformation of the Russian side and intends further escalation of the situation and justification of Russian aggression.

Clarification: Abkhazia admin border

Clarification regarding the statement made on 20:15, August 16, 2008 concerning the shift of the administrative border of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia towards the Enguri river by the units of the Russian regular army and Abkhazian separatist regime.

On 14 August 2008 armed gangs of the Abkhazian separatist regime together with the units of the Russian regular army shifted the administrative border of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia towards the Enguri River. This caused the villages of the Zugdidi region Ganmukhuri and Khurcha to fall under the occupation of the Russian army and armed gangs of the Abkhazian separatist regime. In those villages Abkhazian separatist government set up temporary administration.

According to the reliable information, the criminal situation has rapidly deteriorated in the Georgian villages bordering the Enguri River. There are cases of physical abuse and looting. Abkhazian armed gangs together with Russian soldiers are robbing local population and smuggling the stolen goods to the other side of the Enguri River.

Furthermore, the Russian Federation still continues bombing of Georgian territories using the incendiary weapon prohibited by the International Convention. Today, at approximately 7 p.m. local time, Russian military helicopters bombed timber lands in the vicinity of the town Surami causing the new seats of fire.

Due to the extremely difficult situation, caused by the direct and uncovered occupation of Georgia by the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls upon the friendly countries and international community to provide urgent assistance in extinguishing the seats of fire across Georgia and again, condemns in the strongest terms Russian aggression against the sovereign state of Georgia.

Tbilisi, 16 August 2008, 23:50

French cease-fire text (in French)

La Présidence de la République, dans un souci de transparence, souhaite rendre publique la lettre qui établit précisément les modalités de mise en œuvre du point 5 de l’accord de cessez-le-feu en six points, telles qu’elles ressortent de l’entretien du Président de la République Nicolas SARKOZY avec le Président Dimitri MEDVEDEV le 12 août. Cette lettre a été adressée le 14 août au Président Mikhaïl SAAKACHVILI.

== début de citation ==

Monsieur le Président,

S’agissant du point 5 de l’accord en six points auquel vous avez –après le Président Medvedev- donné votre accord le 12 août dernier lors de notre rencontre à Tbilissi, et qui prévoit que « les forces militaires russes devront se retirer sur les lignes antérieures au déclenchement des hostilités » et que « dans l’attente d’un mécanisme international, les forces de maintien de la paix russes mettront en œuvre des mesures additionnelles de sécurité », je souhaite vous faire part des précisions suivantes :

• Ainsi que je l’ai précisé lors de notre conférence de presse conjointe à Tbilissi, ces « mesures additionnelles de sécurité » ne pourront être mises en œuvre que dans l’immédiate proximité de l’Ossétie du Sud, à l’exclusion de toute autre partie du territoire géorgien ;



• Plus précisément, ces « mesures » ne pourront être mises en œuvre qu’à l’intérieur d’une zone d’une profondeur de quelques kilomètres depuis la limite administrative entre l’Ossétie du Sud et le reste de la Géorgie, de façon à ce qu’aucun centre urbain significatif n’y soit inclus –je pense en particulier à la ville de Gori- ; des arrangements particuliers devront être définis pour garantir la liberté de mouvement et de circulation le long des axes routiers et ferroviaires de la Géorgie ;



• Ces « mesures additionnelles de sécurité » prendront la forme de patrouilles effectuées par les seules forces de maintien de la paix russes aux niveaux autorisés par les arrangements existants, les autres forces russes se retirant sur leurs positions antérieures au 7 août conformément au protocole d’accord ;



• Ces « mesures » auront un caractère provisoire, en attendant l’établissement dans les meilleurs délais du « mécanisme international » dont la nature et le mandat sont d’ores et déjà en cours de discussion dans différentes enceintes internationales, en particulier l’OSCE, l’Union européenne et les Nations Unies.

Fort de ces précisions, je vous demande de bien vouloir confirmer l’accord que vous m’avez donné et que vous avez annoncé publiquement à Tbilissi, en apposant votre signature au bas du protocole d’accord en six points que j’ai moi-même signé en tant que témoin et garant au nom de l’Union européenne. Le Président Medvedev m’a assuré hier que votre signature conduirait au retrait des forces russes conformément à l’accord conclu.

Je vous prie de croire, Monsieur le Président, à l’assurance de ma très haute considération.

Signé : Nicolas SARKOZY

== fin de citation ==

La Présidence de la République souhaite ajouter les 3 précisions suivantes :

• Dans la lettre accompagnant le document relatif au cessez-le-feu, le territoire mentionné se comprend comme l’immédiate proximité de la zone de conflit, telle qu’elle est définie par les arrangements antérieurs, à l’exclusion de toute autre partie du territoire géorgien. Les mesures définies par ce document ne pourront être mises en œuvre qu’à l’intérieur d’une zone d’une profondeur de quelques kilomètres, autour Tskhinvali dans la zone de conflit.


• En aucune manière les mesures mentionnées dans la lettre ne pourront limiter ou mettre en danger la liberté de mouvement et de circulation le long des axes routiers et ferroviaires de la Géorgie.


• D’autres aspects du processus de résolution du conflit seront discutés ultérieurement.

Violations against journalists - timeline

Provided data is operational and may be subject to verification.

16 August

Early afternoon. 3 journalists of Canadian CBC TV including head of the Moscow office were robbed of their car, equipment and other belongings by paramilitary presumably of North Caucasian origin near Gori. Accident happened near Russian soldiers who took no efforts to stop the robbery.

15 August

(02:08) Report, Reuter

Aug. 15 - Turkish television has released dramatic video of a news crew being shot at while covering the conflict between Georgia and Russia.
The news crew was traveling between Gori in Georgia and Tskhinvali in the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia. One reporter was shot in the head in the attack but his injuries are not life-threatening.
Andrew Potter reports.
http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=89063&newsChannel=newsOne

13:00 One Turkish and two Reuter’s journalists (one of them were Georgian citizen) were detained by Russian soldiers in Poti.

10:30 Near village Sagolasheni, Gori district, vehicle of freelance journalist Margarita Akhvlediani was stopped by South Ossetian separatists. Vehicle was shot. Journalist was robbed of her car, camera and other belongings.

14 August

19:35 German television ZDF journalist reported that they were eyewitnesses how Danish journalists were robbed of the car and cameras by South Ossetian separatists.

18:10 Russian General Viacheslav Borisov refused to assume responsibility for loves of the journalists in Gori.

17.00 Correspondent of “Moambe” news program of GPB (Georgian Public Broadcasting) Tamar Urushadze has been just slightly wounded, presumably by sniper shot in live broadcast near Gori.
http://www.gpbtv.info/news_det.php?lang=eng&id=294

16:00 Four Israeli journalists, including Haaretz correspondent Anshel Pfeffer and photographer Nir Kafri, were robbed at gunpoint by Russian soldiers in the Georgian city of Gori.

12:30 Russian military attacked operator of Georgian TV Rustavi2 and threatening with gun he prevented journalist to implement his duties near Gori.
Early afternoon. 3 journalists of Canadian CBC TV including head of the Moscow office were robbed of their car, equipment and other belongings by paramilitary presumably of North Caucasian origin near Gori. Accident happened near Russian soldiers who took no efforts to stop the robbery.

12 August

22:52 Three foreign journalists have been robbed of their car in the village of Karaleti, Gori District.

16:30 Russian troops entered the territory of Gori TV transmition station. One employee has been killed three injured. Russians destroyed equipment of the station. As a result the only Russian speaking TV station Alanya TV is out of air. The region can not receive Georgian Public Broadcasting channel as well.

10 August

Two journalists were killed by Ossetian Separatists. Journalist of Itar-Tass agency Alexander Klimchuk and Alanya TV editor of news programs Giga Chikhladze were taken hostage and later murdered by South Ossetian separatists. The journalists entered Tskhinvali together with Georgian government forces.

See following web-pages:
http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=20
http://www.icfj.org/OurWork/EasternEuropeCentralAsia/CaucasusSchoolofJournalism/GeorgianGradsCoverConflict/tabid/939/Default.aspx

Abkhazia Administrative Border Shifted

On 16 August 2008 at approximately 4 p.m. local time, armed gangs of the Abkhazian separatist regime together with units of the Russian regular army shifted the administrative border of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia towards the Enguri River. This caused the villages of the Zugdidi region Ganmukhuri and Khurcha, villages of the Tsalenjikha region Fakhulani, Tchale, Mujava and Fotskho-Etseri, as well as territory of the Enguri Hydro Power Plant and adjacent villages of Phichori, Otobaia, Nabakevi, Tagiloni, Chuburkhinji, Dikhazurga and Saberio to fall under the occupation of the Russian army and armed gangs of the Abkhazian separatist regime. In those villages Abkhazian separatist government set up temporary administration.

According to the reliable information, the criminal situation has rapidly deteriorated in the Georgian villages bordering the Enguri River. There are cases of physical abuse and looting. Abkhazian armed gangs together with Russian soldiers are robbing local population and smuggling the stolen goods to the other side of the Enguri River.

Furthermore, the Russian Federation still continues bombing of Georgian territories using the incendiary weapon prohibited by the International Convention. Today, at approximately 7 p.m. local time, Russian military helicopters bombed timber lands in the vicinity of the town Surami causing the new seats of fire.

Due to the extremely difficult situation, caused by the direct and uncovered occupation of Georgia by the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls upon the friendly countries and international community to provide urgent assistance in extinguishing the seats of fire across Georgia and again, condemns in the strongest terms Russian aggression against the sovereign state of Georgia.

Video footage of exploded bridge

Officials of the Russian Authorities continue their attempts to mislead the international community.

As noted in the previous statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia of 16 August 2008, troops of the Russian occupation army carried out yet another subversive-terrorist act - they mined and exploded the Metekhi-Grakali span of the railway bridge in the Kaspi district, which resulted in the severing of railway links between the east and west of Georgia.

Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Anatoly Nogovitsyn denied the fact of bridge blast and said: "I state with fully responsibility – it is ruled out."

With respect to this statement of Anatoly Nogovitsyn, every organization or physical person concerned may check the website (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dqurwp09Kc, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK3xVgrMfbg) for video footage of the exploded bridge.

We are confident the international community assesses adequately the reliability of ‘data’ disseminated by Russian officials concerning the developments throughout the Georgian territory – both in and outside the conflict zone.

Destroyed military police car

Timeline by 16th of August, 21:15

Provided data is operational and may be subject to verification.

16 August

21:15 About 60 Russian military cars have been deployed at the entrance of town Akhalgori 40 km north-west of Tbilisi.

20:00 According to the reports from Akhalgori district, Russian troops have started proposing Russian passports to the local population.

19:30 The houses in village Gamdlistskaro, Kaspi district are being put to fire by Russian soldiers.

18:30 Russian aviation has dropped fire setting engines in the area of the town of Surami, Khashuri district. The forests around Surami are burning.

18:20 Russian troops have entered the town of Akhalgori – center of the Akhalgori district.

16:00 Russian military denies Turkish and Ukranian airplanes permission to enter Georgian airspace in order to take part in putting down the fires in the Borjomi district forests. The fires started as a result of dropping of fire setting engines in the area by Russian aviation

14:40 Numerous fires have been noticed in the town of Kaspi and surrounding villages after Russian aviation dropped fire setting engines in the area.

14:40 Russian paramilitaries (so called Cossacks) have entered the town of Kharagauli 50 Km from Kutaisi.

14:30 Eight units of Russian armored troops have started movement from Khashuri district towards the town of Sachkhere.

13:20 Russian troops have started moving from Igoeti, Kaspi district towards Gori.

13:00 Two Russian trucks with soldiers have moved through the Rikoti tunnel to the village Khevi, Kharagauli district.

12:30 The traffic on Khashuri-Borjomi highway has been stopped by the Georgian authorities due to security concerns as a result of the Russian troops movements.

12:30 Grakali Railroad Bridge in Kaspi district has been blown up by Russian troops.

12:30 Russian troops fired from an artillery gun in Uplistsikhe. The shell exploded in the river.

10:45 Three Russian tanks are stationed in Kaspi and two in Igoeti.

10:30 Russian aviation has dropped fire setting engines near the village of Khandaki, Kaspi district. The forest near the village is burning.

10:30 Russian aviation has dropped unidentified devices to the vine factory in village Okami, Kaspi district.

10:15 Ten tanks from Igoeti headed towards Khashuri and seven to Znauri.

10:15 The Russians, who left the port of Poti yesterday, have returned with four armored personnel carrier, one crane, 10 army trucks (8 Ural, 2 Kamaz) and one army vehicle.

08:47 – The battalion has stopped in the village Karaleti. The group is composed of lots of armored personnel carriers, tanks, army trucks and engineer unit. The staff meeting is taking place. The general joined later arriving by helicopter.

08:26 – General Alarm was declared in 71st Tank Battalion of the Russian army, stationed in Tskhinvali. The Battalion is now heading towards Gori. As of now, they are in the village of Karaleti.

00:30 The cases of looting and abuse of local civilians committed by separatists in Russian occupied villages of Abisi, Koda, Ptsa – Kareli district have been reported.

New Wave of Ethnic Cleansing

According to the statement of 16 August 2008 of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation, subdivisions of the Ministry have started withdrawal of ethnic Georgian population from the Tskhinvali region in the direction of Gori.

We are faced with a new wave of ethnic cleansing of Georgians conducted under military-occupation regime by the Russian Federation, this time through the involvement of Russian state structures.

We would like to focus the international community’s attention on the fact that the Russian Authorities have recently been making an increasing number of statements on the necessity of taking into consideration the will of the region’s population. The ethnic cleansing of Georgians seems to be a method by which Moscow expects to attain awaited results.

Chechen Battalion "Vostok" in South Ossetia

Russian occupation army explodes railway bridge

Despite the international community’s efforts and the signing of documents on cessation of hostilities, the Russian Federation’s armed forces continue military actions against Georgia, destroying civilian infrastructure.

On 16 August 2008 troops of the Russian occupation army mined and exploded the Metekhi-Grakali span of the railway bridge in the Kaspi district. This subversive-terrorist act resulted in the severing of railway links between the east and west of Georgia and connections with Georgia’s seaports. Moreover, the bridge used to provide a route for refugees from the Russian-occupied territories into safe places.

Russia is pursuing deliberate policy aimed at undermining Georgia’s statehood, including through bringing about humanitarian catastrophe.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls on the international community and friend countries to take urgent measures to avert humanitarian catastrophe in Georgia and prevent destruction of Georgia’s statehood.

Russian military helicopters drop incendiary bombs

On 15th of August, at approximately 15:30 local time Russian military helicopters started bombing the bordering territories of the city of Borjomi and settlement of Tsemi using incendiary munitions, weapon prohibited by the international convention. The broad areas of timber land have been set on fire and fifteen sets of fire have broken out in southern parts of Georgia.

With this move the Russian Federation violated international obligations it has undertaken, particularly the Protocol III (on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons) of the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (Geneva, 10 October 1980). The Paragraph 4 of the Article 2 of the Protocol prohibits making forests or other kinds of plant cover the object of attack by incendiary weapons.

Above mentioned fact once again clearly demonstrates how does Russian Federation disregard international obligations it has been committed to and despite all international norms, along with the occupation of Georgia cynically carries out intentional destruction of the natural resources of the country while extremely endangering civilian population.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls upon the International Community to resolutely condemn Russian actions on Georgian soil and urge it to comply with the Agreement on Cease-Fire.

Russians use Cluster Munitions Against Civilians

The authorities of Georgia possess comprehensive evidence, proving that different types of heavy conventional weapons, including cluster munitions, Rocket Complex 9M72 Iskander (SS-26 Stone) etc., have been indiscriminately used against civilian population and infrastructure of Georgia. The utilization of such weapons against peaceful population and civilian objects vividly reveals the inhuman brutality of Russian troops acting on the territory of Georgia.

The number of civilian targets bombed or otherwise attacked by the Russian armed forces clearly indicates that it was not just a collateral damage: apartment buildings, Gori market and municipality, Poti seaport, the railway station and airport in Senaki, BTC pipeline, Kopitnari airport near Kutaisi, airfield in Upper Abkhazia, bridges linking eastern and western Georgia, civilian radar station near Tbilisi, etc.

It must be especially stressed, that the use of cluster munitions against civilian population is especially cynical next to the background of the efforts applied by the international community to restrict and even ban such types of weaponry.

Even after reaching agreement on August 12 on principles of resolution of Georgian-Russian conflict, mediated by the President of France, Russian Federation still continued bombing of civilian targets far beyond the conflict regions, causing mass destruction of infrastructure and severe physical and moral damage to the civilian population. Considering the aforementioned facts, we get a clear picture that the Russian troops continued their atrocities against civilian population of Georgia long after factual cease of hostilities against the Georgian armed forces, thus severely violating core principles of international humanitarian law.

Our information is confirmed by the data released by Human Rights Watch according to which, Russian military planes dropped RBK-250 cluster bombs, each containing 30 PTAB 2.5M sub-munitions, on the town of Ruisi in the Kareli district of Georgia on August 12, 2008. Three civilians were killed and five wounded in the attack. On the same day, a cluster strike in the center of the town of Gori killed at least eight civilians and injured dozens. Reportedly, the Dutch journalist Stan Storimans fell a victim to a cluster attack as well.

It is imperative that in the nearest future the international community must thoroughly consider, investigate and assess all violations of the international law by the Russian side.

Such actions must be unacceptable to all the democratic countries of the world, and should draw us together in strong and universal condemnation of the Russian aggression.

Estonian Humanitarian Mission

Estonian volunteers arrived in Georgia. A fifty-person delegation of volunteers visited the Ministry of Defence of Georgia as well. They will assist injured people and provide for humanitarian aid. The information spread via media about arriving of Estonian military units does not correspond to the facts. Volunteers arrived to perform only humanitarian mission duties.

Timeline by 15th of August at 21:50

Provided data is operational and may be subject to verification.

15 August

21:50 Russian troops continued movement from Khashuri and are in Surami close to Khashuri on central highway.

21:00 Russian troops entered Khashuri about 100kms west from Tbilisi and opened checkpoint. About 10 Tanks are in the city. Eyewitnesses report that they behave very cynically and terrorize civilians pointing guns to them or Tank guns to their cars and houses.

20:00 Russian troops began preparing tranches for armored vehicles and soldiers near the entrance of Senaki.

18:30 9 armored vehicles of Russian Army accompanied by 3 Mi-24 helicopters moved towards Tbilisi. They stopped and opened check point near village Igoeti 20 kms from Tbilisi, Kaspi district.

17:00 Russian troops began withdrawal from Poti. They took with them 8 “Black Shark” boats, 7 A type boats, 2 Coastal Guard vessels. They also took equipment from the buildings of the Coastal Guard in Poti.

16:10 Russian soldiers kidnapped 4 member of Namgalauri family from village Ghogheti of Kareli district. Kidnapers moved towards Znauri.

15:30 Russian helicopters are overflying Bordjomi-Tsemi forests and dropping fire setting engines. There are already from 12 to 15 fire locations. Russian military confirmed of flying helicopters over this territory without further comments.

13:00 One Turkish and two Reuter’s journalists (one of them were Georgian citizen) were detained by Russian soldiers in Poti.

10:30 Near village Sagolasheni, Gori district, vehicle of freelance journalist Margarita Akhvlediani was stopped by South Ossetian separatists. Vehicle was shot. Journalist was robbed of her car, camera and other belongings.

09:30 21 Military Tracks full of Russian military began movement from Senaki towards Poti port.

09:20 71st regiment of 42nd division of 58th Army of Russia moved from Tskhinvalu to Ergneti heading towards Gori.

09:00 Human Rights Watch researchers have uncovered evidence that Russian aircraft dropped cluster bombs (banned by 107 nations) in populated areas in Georgia during the air attacks from 6th of August, killing at least 11 civilians and injuring dozens, Human Rights Watch said today.

08:00 Russian troops consisting of 14 armored vehicle and 4 tracks left Senaki and moved in the direction of the second largest town of Georgia Kutaisi. Currently they are at Abashis Tskali river, 40 kms west from Kutaisi and 10 kms west from Samtredia - the main railway and highway crossroad in western Georgia.

"Unite as we stand" program

Development and Reforms Foundation launches new urgent Program - "Unite as we stand"

Due to the fact that Georgia is under the war conditions with the initiative of the President of Georgia and Government of Georgia the Development and Reforms Foundation launches new urgent Program - "Unite as we stand". The main aim of the program is to facilitate any kind of activities concerning the social - economical rehabilitation of Georgia after the war.

"DRF" welcomes all donations and support from abroad and from local donators on its special accounts.

Bank Accounts

FOR TRANSACTIONS IN GEL
BENEFICIARY’S BANK : "Basis Bank"
Bank Code : 220101956
BENEFICIARY : "DEVELOPMENT AND REFORM FOUNDATION" UNDER PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA
ACCOUNT # : 134530

FOR TRANSACTIONS IN USD
INTERMEDIARY BANK : DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST CO. AMERICAS NEW YORK, USA
SWIFT : BKTRUS33
ABA : 021001033
BENEFICIARY’S BANK : BASIS BANK TBILISI, GEORGIA
SWIFT : CBASGE22
BENEFICIARY : OBJECTIVE ACCOUNT FOUNDATION "DEVELOPMENT AND REFORM FOUNDATION"
ACC. No : 134530

FOR TRANSACTIONS IN EURO AND OTHER CONVERTIBLE CURRENCY
INTERMEDIARY BANK : DEUTSCHE BANK FRANKFURT/ESCHBORN, DEUTSCHLAND
SWIFT : DEUT DE FF
BENEFICIARY’S BANK : BASIS BANK TBILISI, GEORGIA
SWIFT : CBASGE22
BENEFICIARY : OBJECTIVE ACCOUNT FOUNDATION "DEVELOPMENT AND REFORM FOUNDATION"
ACC. No : 134530

Appeal of Georgian Parliament to the International Community

The whole world, with deep concern, is closely watching how Russia is carrying out full-scale occupation of Georgia. Encroachment of sovereignty of an independent State and its military occupation represents a direct challenge to security of Europe and whole democratic community.

Land-based operations and bombardments are being carried out on the whole territory of Georgia. Russian armed forces barbarically bombed not only military and industrial facilities, but also peaceful population in different Georgian cities and villages, including capital of Georgia Tbilisi, as well as cities Kutaisi, Gori, Kaspi, Kareli, Marneuli, Bolnisi, Zugdidi, Poti, Oni, Khelvachauri, Khashuri, Senaki, and Dedoplistskaro. In addition, Hospitals were bombed resulting in killing of wounded people and medical personnel there.

The Russian aviation and artillery have also ruined Tskinvali and nearby villages, as a result of which many Georgian and Ossetian peaceful people have been killed.

In the course of several days the Russian artillery and aviation have been bombing the upper Abkhazia, and in the aftermath the Russian airborne forces launched an air, sea and land-based attack. Russian armed forces along with illegal formations of the separatists occupied the upper Abkhazia in violation of the United Nations Security Council’s resolutions and other international agreements.

Currently, the substantial part of territory of Georgia is occupied by Russian military units. The occupants seized the central highway connecting eastern and western Georgia, disrupted economic links between different regions, blockaded the Poti port and the capital of Georgia, which may result in humanitarian catastrophe.

Open terror and marauding are being carried out in the occupied territories and peaceful Georgian population is being subjected to ethnic cleansing. The upper Abkhazia and Tskinvali region have been empted of population. Part of the population is under arrest and is subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment.

The international community must stand up to the aggression, brutality and full-scale ethnic cleansing carried out perpetrated by the Russian Federation.

This aggression against Georgia constitutes the threat not only for Georgia but for the whole world.

Russian Federation’s aggression against neighboring State has demonstrated once again that Russia is not and can not be a mediator or peacekeeper in the conflict regions of Georgia, because the so-called peacekeeping forces of Russia have turned into occupation forces. They must be replaced immediately by international peace contingents.

The Georgian Authorities and Georgian people shall not reconcile themselves with the presence, in any possible forms, of occupation forces of Aggressor State on the territory of Georgia.

The Parliament of Georgia declares those territories occupied by Russian armed forces as occupied territories and calls upon the international community to do its utmost in order to make sure that military units of Aggressor State immediately leave the territory of Georgia, including the Tskinvali region and Abkhazia.

The Parliament of Georgia calls upon interparliamentary organizations and the Parliamentary Assemblies of international organizations to terminate the mandate of Parliamentary delegations of Russia, as representatives of Aggressor State.

Conversation between Tkeshelashvili and Lavrov

On 13 August 2008 one more telephone conversation was held between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Eka Tkeshelashvili and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Segey Lavrov. The conversation held on the Russian side’s initiative.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia expressed its strong protest over developments in Georgia. Namely, despite Russia’s announcement of ceasefire, during last two days numerous facts of aggression have been reported.

According to Mrs. Eka Tkeshelashvili brutal ethnic cleansing was carried out in Georgia, moreover, there were facts of robberies by the Russian militaries.

Russian colleague could not answer on the questions of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

14 August 2008, 16:00

Timeline by 14th of August 19:35

14 August

19:35 German television ZDF journalist reported that they were eyewitnesses how Danish journalists were robbed of their car and cameras by South Ossetian separatists.

19:10 Russian army deployed additional troops to Zugdidi and began strengthening checkpoints and positions around and in the town.

18:30 Acts of atrocities and looting were reported from village Dzevera, Kareli district. Lootings by soldiers were reported from the ground. Reports on the looting of cultural and religious monuments and centers were reported (work is ongoing to confirm these initial reports).

18:15 Russian troops entered village Agara in Kareli district. Lootings are reported from the ground.

18:10 Russian General Viacheslav Borisov refused to assume responsibility for lives of the journalists in Gori.

17:30 120 Estonian reservists arrive in Tbilisi to take part in Humanitarian aid.

17:00 Georgian journalist of GPB TV Company Tamar Urushadze was shot presumably by sniper in live broadcast near Gori. Journalist was slightly wounded in the hand.

16:30 The villages Brotsleti, Mejvriskhevi, Gorijvari of Gori district, and Breti of Kareli district are being ravaged by South Ossetian separatists.

16:00 Four Israeli journalists, including Haaretz correspondent Anshel Pfeffer and photographer Nir Kafri, were robbed at gunpoint by Russian soldiers in the Georgian city of Gori.

15:40 Russian soldiers robbed Georgian policemen of their car nearby village Tokhlaura, Kareli district.

15:30 Russian troops are marauding in the village Debisi of Gori district.

14:40 Local residents report, Russian troops have entered village Mejvriskhevi, Gori district.

14:15 Russian troops enter the villages of Ruisi and Tsveri, Kareli district.

14:00 Russian troops are entering Gori again. Georgian police have no control over the city.

12:00 Russian troops entered Poti port again. They occupied building of Coastal Guard. They are destroying vessels of Costal Guard of Georgia.

12:00 Additional Russian troops entered Zugdidi. Russians remain present in Senaki as well. Russian troops still block the entrances to Gori and there is no sign of leaving their positions as agreed before.

11:00 Russian troops are moving in the city of Senaki West of the capital Tbilisi 230 kms, destroying Georgian military installations.

Russian occupation forces violate the ceasefire again

On 14 August 2008 Russian occupation forces once again violated the ceasefire agreement and did not let Georgian police units into the town of Gori.

According to the available information, armoured vehicles have been introduced into Gori again and the town is being mined. Peaceful citizens of Georgia and foreign journalists trapped in Gori face a real threat, as Russian servicemen do not let them out of the town. Several buildings in the town are burning. Real humanitarian catastrophe is looming as a result of Russian aggression.

Furthermore, Russian occupation forces returned to Senaki and Poti. They are looting Senaki military base and Poti military port, destroying the property of the Georgian state.

Such actions of Russian invaders once again point to the urgent necessity of the international community’s interference in order to stop Russian military aggression in Georgia.

Map of Attacks

Russian Military Establishes Illegal Checkpoint

Russian military have established an illegal checkpoint on the main highway at the city of Gori

According to the recent information received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the appropriate authorities of Georgia, on 13 August 2008, the Russian military have established an illegal checkpoint on the main highway at the city of Gori. All cargo vehicles passing through this checkpoint are being stopped and thoroughly searched by the Russian military, and being allowed the free passage only under condition of payment of ransom.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is assessing this act as a grave violation of international law and sovereignty of Georgia.

By introducing illegal armed formations and groups of bandits who are now blocking Georgian highways, looting peaceful population and disrupting trade, the Russian Federation again clearly demonstrates that its aim is the full occupation of Georgia.

Hotline created

Today the Cabinet of the Minister of State of Georgia for Reintegration has created a hotline, which will work for 24 hours.

We call on all citizens to contact us if they possess information on the following issues:

1. Hostages


2. Facts of looting


3. Peaceful population remained in the conflict zone

Thanking in advance for cooperation

Hotline:
47 30 06
98 94 51

Teleconference Transcript of President Saakashvili's Briefing

Held at 13:00 CET, Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Good morning. The President of Georgia will make a brief statement, then answer questions.

PRESIDENT: I’d like to briefly describe the situation. Russian tanks have advanced since morning, and moved into the town Gori. They have destroyed buildings, blown up and rampaged through houses. There has been looting by Russian troops, shooting at some people, theft of furniture, computers, everything valuable.

They are now on the main road leading from West to East, blocking the capital’s bloodline, 50km from Tbilisi. They have cut Georgia in half, West and East. The capital is now in some sort of economic blockade.

Regarding the situation in Abkhazia, South Ossetia: two things. First, the Russians have rampaged through Georgian-populated areas of South Ossetia, representing roughly half of what was South Ossetia. They have ethnically cleansed the population. They have separated men from women and set up internment camps for men in the area of Kouta. There are reports of summary executions. There is also looting in several villages.

In Upper Abkhazia, they have expelled practically the entire ethnic Georgian population. The town of Tskhinvali, at the moment when we left, was heavily bombarded. It was totally levelled. They turned it into a sort of second Grozny. We demanded immediate access for the international community, so that they could verify who was responsible. All indications are that the Russians deliberately levelled the city - they destroyed the place. We also have economic sabotage, a humanitarian crisis, and predatory incursions.

One might ask why. I think they’re not just trying to kill a country, but the ideal of free democracy and successful prosperity. They want to show the west who is boss. They’ve tried to cut off energy lines, using their Iskander missiles against pipelines. CNN qualifies them as missiles of mass destruction. This is the latest technology Russia has at its disposal. They used two of them against the pipeline. They dropped dozens of bombs on the pipelines, they’ve bombed the seaports, they managed to bomb our oil terminal in the Black Sea. They also want to punish our democracy, and that’s where we find ourselves now.

Gregory Pfeiffer, National Public Radio: Given everything you’re saying now, and that Moscow says, or at least foreign minister Sergei Lavrov yesterday said he doesn’t even want to talk to you, how do you envision peace talks to go forward, and when? How optimistic are you that there will be talks at all?

PRESIDENT: What we have on the ground is certainly very difficult. President Sarkozy was here yesterday. He brought the framework conditions for a ceasefire, and there were certainly unconditional provisions for ceasing hostilities, not resorting to force, free humanitarian corridors, separation of forces. That’s not happening yet, even if Russia yesterday announced that they were ceasing fire, they are continuing, and they’ve been escalating. It’s hard to say.

It’s not about Georgia any more. You know, if Russia gets away with this, I can predict now that the Baltic countries will be next, Ukraine may be attacked. We’ve seen them – as ruthless, as lawless, as brutal, as arrogant as they can get. They go unchecked. The world community should speak with one voice. We need a big humanitarian relief operation, like the Berlinairlift, because the capital is blocked from all sides. It’s one and a half million people, it’s a modern European city, and it needs a lifeline. The main thing is that if the West fails, it will have tremendous consequences for the years to come.

Gregory Pfeiffer, National Public Radio: How do you envision talks going forward? Are you prepared to talk to Moscow?

PRESIDENT: We’ve been prepared to talk to Moscow the whole way through. When they started to shoot at us, when they started to move tanks in on the 7th of August, we were frantically calling them. I called Prime Minister Putin, and his secretary told me to call back. We were calling them the whole way through, asking them to do something, and they wouldn’t respond. Did Stalin respond to the Finns in 1939? Did the Soviet Union respond to the Hungarians in 1956 or the Czechs in 1968?

For more than a year, they’ve been building infrastructure across our borders. In normal democracies, with a free press, people would ask why the army is building installations at the neighbouring country’s border. In Russia, they’ve been running propaganda that we’re American proxies that want to undermine Russia – it’s the worst wartime propaganda.

I’ve been talking to the West, asking “Why don’t you do something?” They’ve been saying “You’re exaggerating; Russia’s not going to do anything.” Now look what they’re doing. This has already exceeded my worst expectations.

Fred Kemp: hello, President Saakashvili, good to hear your voice.

PRESIDENT: Good to hear your voice as well. You’re aware of what’s happening, right?

Fred Kemp: Of course, we talked to your Ambassador yesterday and we want to keep in touch with what’s going on at the Atlantic Council and Bloomberg News. I wonder if you could tell me what it is you need most from the US and Europeans now, and have you made specific requests, and what has been the specific response to the requests?

PRESIDENT: What we need now, absolutely urgently, are airlifts - of food, medicines, because we’re a modern country, but we weren’t prepared for a long war. That’s a key – a lifeline – something comparable to the Berlin airlift. We also need secure communications, a monitored ceasefire that can be monitored by international monitors, and we need peacekeepers on the ground that would come from impartial countries immediately. If this doesn’t happen, things will escalate again.

Georgia is a country of five million people. If there are twelve hundred Russian tanks running around the country, rampaging, looting, killing, this would be such a disaster. We already have people who have fled their homes, tens of thousands of them at this stage. It might go to hundreds of thousands. We are talking to the UNHCR, and they estimate that there are already 100,000 displaced persons from the last few days. One hundred thousand! And it might climb to 180,000. This is a humanitarian catastrophe of huge dimensions, unfolding in the eyes of the world. And it’s in Europe.

Fred Kemp: What has been the response of the US, of the European Union to these specific requests so far?

PRESIDENT: Frankly, it has not been adequate. It has not been adequate. They’re talking about a negotiated ceasefire, how this side should do this, this side should do that – it’s appeasement. Appeasement in 1938 brought tens of millions of deaths to Europe. Georgia is first, like Czechoslovakia was first in 1938, then Poland followed, then the rest of Europe followed, then there was the greatest humanitarian catastrophe the world has ever seen.

People should wake up. It’s not about Georgia. The bombs they were dropping on us had “This is for NATO” written on the side. We need real actions, not just consolation, or solidarity. Solidarity matters. But when people get hungry, when they’re roofless, that’s not going to do the trick. Russia did this because they thought that nobody would intervene. So far, that’s been confirmed.

Ian Traynor, The Guardian: I wonder, in terms of the Sarkozy negotiations, could you give us any details? Would you be prepared, for example, to sign a non-use-of-force agreement? Could you envisage Georgian peacekeepers playing any continued role in South Ossetia, for example?

PRESIDENT: We’ve been prepared all along to sign a non-use-of-force agreement. But we’ve always asked for international verification on the ground. Otherwise, it makes no sense. What we’ve been expressing with Sarkozy is – who’s going to verify? Who’s going to check? I don’t care if it’s Georgians, or French, or Ukrainian, as far as they’re impartial and they protect the population. What we’re seeing now on the ground is the long-standing effort to purify this area. No population, no problem – Stalin’s slogan. No Georgia, no problem! They’ve done it in Silesia, they’ve done it in Karelia, now they’re doing it in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. They’ve thrown out the last elements of the Georgian population, now they’re destroying the rest of Georgia so it’s so crippled it can never get up off its knees again.

Russian peacekeepers are like the fox guarding the chickens. We had sixteen years of peacekeeping by the Russians – and their peacekeepers were the ones that were shooting first! Of course we’ve been discussing internationalisation, we’ve been discussing non-use of force, we’ve been discussing the international guarantees for autonomy and security and all sorts of things. But the first thing that should have been done is an immediate ceasefire, and it’s exactly what’s not happening.

Ian Traynor, The Guardian: The European Union foreign ministers are currently meeting in Brussels, discussing the situation in Georgia. If there’s an agreement on an international presence in Georgia, will Russian forces also be taking part in Abkhazia and South Ossetia?

PRESIDENT: In Abkhazia, it’s out of the question at this stage, because of what the peacekeepers did. In Abkhazia we have 6-700 Russian tanks, ethnically purifying Abkhazia, depriving it of 85% of its pre-conflict population. Now, for an interim period, there can be some Russian peacekeepers, but we all know that these are not peacekeepers, they’re Russian soldiers. So a limited Russian peacekeeping force, for a limited time in a limited zone – maybe. And just in South Ossetia.

But who will be willing to replace them? Georgia has always wanted international peacekeepers and mediation. We heartily welcomed the German peace plan. We welcomed every EU initiative on these issues. We’ve always welcomed bringing other people into the negotiations, because on our own against Russia, well, I knew it was just asking for trouble, and that’s what’s happened.

Stefan Cornelius, South German News: going back a few days, I’d like to ask you what made you decide to put the forces into South Ossetia on Thursday night after declaring a halt of weapons at that point.

PRESIDENT: I am sickened by the speculation that Georgia started anything first. We clearly responded to the Russians. Ossetian separatists are supported by the Russian forces, and they were shooting at us for days and days. They were killing people. We declared a ceasefire, hoping to stop the violence. On the day I was supposed to go to the Olympics, 15 minutes before I was supposed to leave, I got off the plane, because I felt something was going wrong. I called Javier Solana, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, friendly presidents, asking them to contact Russia, because they wouldn’t respond to us. We wanted to know what was going on. It was very unusual – we had provocations in the past, but this was very unusual.

The point here is that around eleven o’clock, Russian tanks started to move into Georgian territory, 150 at first. And that was a clear-cut invasion. That was the moment when we started to open fire with artillery, because otherwise they would have crossed the bridge and moved into Tskhinvali. The problem is that on the way, there were villages that didn’t have any military personnel in them, because we weren’t preparing for this. We only had lightly-armed police. So, once they crossed the village, they could move quickly through the villages, then on to Tskhinvali.

They have been building up troops all year. Can you imagine that somebody would bring 1200 tanks into another country within a few hours? It takes months and months. Even the United States couldn’t do it in that short an amount of time. So it’s another Russian fiction. When they shot down our UAV, they said it was war provocation. When they were bombing our territory, they said there were Georgian planes bombing their territory. You know, Finland also attacked the Soviet Union, according to Stalin. Poland also attacked Germany. Small countries always attack, and then get occupied. It’s high time for people to understand what’s going on.

I’ve heard talk of this being a hot-headed nationalist response. Excuse me – what do you mean, response? We were being invaded, occupied, killed – and to suggest that responding to that would be hot-headed nationalism, frankly, would be immoral. I’m astonished that, in the 21st century, that would be possible. My only gamble here was to try to build a free society and a free country. And the Russians are now saying that this is going to fail. My response is that no matter what we do, we’re not going to give up. We had the biggest rally ever in Tbilisi yesterday. This was a time that there were rumours, bombings, there were 200,000 people in the streets despite the fact that people were saying they might bomb the demonstration. Everything’s possible. People showed up en masse. If you have 200,000 people in the streets, that should show you something. Democracy cannot be defeated only by tanks.

But democracies can be betrayed. And it is true that many people in the world are still underestimating the threat, and looking for all kinds of justifications for why they shouldn’t act. For me, frankly, not giving us a MAP was a signal to Russia. They got the signal. No matter what the justification was, publicly, the Russians got the message. They took it as a signal to attack. I’ve been waiting for the attack for months, warning Western leaders about this. They kept saying that “this is not going to happen, that [I] was exaggerating.” I told them they would bomb us. “Oh, no, no, Russians would never bomb anybody.” The scale of the invasion is bigger than the first days of Afghanistan or Prague or Budapest, that’s for sure.

Stefan Cornelius, South German News: What did you hope to achieve militarily?

PRESIDENT: We were trying to stop them at the border – we were late. Once they got to Tskhinvali, they could march on the capital. We tried to stop them in the mountains before Tskhinvali, but we were too late and there were too many of them. I know very well that Russian forces are so overwhelming that – well, we knew they were on the border, but when 150 tanks started to come in, we either would have stopped them before the bridge, in the Roki tunnel, or they would have got to Tskhinvali and got to anywhere.

But for the last year, they’ve been building this infrastructure near the Roki tunnel. Remember the railway troops in Abkhazia? They built tank bases without putting tanks in them. The West said that they couldn’t confirm all this. Looks like the Georgian intelligence services were the best. But to sum up, you resist or you surrender. We had an obligation to resist, I think. It seems very rational. What was our choice?

Patricia Corrigan, CBS News: do you feel like you were baited into this by the Russians, and given recent history could you not have anticipated this?

PRESIDENT: It’s not about being baited, it’s about being attacked. Tell me any other democracy that wouldn’t respond. You either surrender or you respond. We are not going to surrender. It’s a question of morality, duty, obligation towards your constitution and your people. That’s it. And the magnitude of the Russian response was foreseeable. The Western response was not really predictable.

But I didn’t really expect a military response – I expected the world to speak with one voice. We’ve been warning them that there was a large-scale Russian invasion coming. What more could we do? We knew very well that increasing the military budget was a bit quixotic. But we also watch Russian television, and we saw it was coming. The kind of propaganda they were running – it looked like they were going to attack. One week before the invasion, the Russian military were handing out leaflets saying “We should liberate Georgia from Saakashvili, they’re suffering.” We have these papers.

Yesterday, my wife visited downed Russian pilots in a hospital in Tbilisi – and just so you know, they’re being looked after just fine. They were spouting the same propaganda about Georgia. They’ve been indoctrinated to criticise us when they’ve been killing all these people over the past few days. This conflict never should have happened.

Nina Donahue, Fox News: we were briefed yesterday by high-level State Dept officials. They were downplaying this, saying it was just a flare-up. What I’m asking is, has the US completely underestimated Russia’s ambitions?

PRESIDENT: I think they did. Senator McCain was quite right, saying “We are all Georgians now.” Barack Obama also made a statement. But your State Department underestimated them. They were saying that Russia was just playing games. I asked about what would happen if they crossed the line. They said that it’d be a big mistake. Well, it’s a weak consolation that Russia’s made a mistake. And the West has made the mistake of underestimating them.

But this is also because Georgia is so successful. We were the darling of the World Bank, number 16 or 17 in terms of business environment, leaders in terms of foreign direct investment in the region. We have the lowest corruption in the area, one of the lowest in Europe. We had 12% growth last year, and this year we were anticipating 11%. And of course the Russians were going nuts, because even with their oil and gas we were doing better economically. They tried to undermine us with an economic embargo, they blew up power lines. Some people were calling us paranoid.

Nina Donahue, Fox News: What would you like to see the US doing now?

PRESIDENT: I think America should clearly organise resistance among Western countries. They have lots of leverage to stop Russian aggression. America’s prestige and reputation in the region is at stake. There’s lots of costs that the US should impose on Russia, and this should happen. Otherwise, this is going to continue. The reputation that America has gained since the Cold War is going to hell right now. This is tragic. I lived in the US, I like America. Some people have said we’re building a little America here – we’re a free European country based on the rule of law, democracy and an open society. They’re American and European values – and historically and geographically, we’re a European country.

So that’s what’s happening here, and I would like to thank you, all of you, for joining me on this call. Please, tell the world the truth. Russia is out there spreading propaganda. They have so many resources at their disposal. It’s typical war-time propaganda. They levelled Tskhinvali, and they said the Georgians did it. They showed wounded Georgians and said they were wounded South Ossetians wounded by Georgians. They talk about me like a hot-headed dictator. They are all over the place. There are also politicians in some countries that, for pragmatic reasons, are willing to swallow all of this. So please, global democracy is at stake. Please tell the world the truth. The Russians are killing this issue, and they’re going to kill our country.

Nina Donahue, Fox News: Can I ask one more question?

PRESIDENT: Of course.

Nina Donahue, Fox News: Can you describe the situation on the ground around Tblisi?

PRESIDENT: Yes. The Russians have blocked off the main roads and surrounded the capital. People are trying to flee – we’re talking about hundreds of thousands of displaced persons and a humanitarian disaster. The city is normal. Cars are driving around. Electricity and water supplies are functioning, shops are open. The police are regulating law and order.

But in other parts of the country, the police are not trained to withstand Russian tanks. They are there to establish law and order. Russian troops are bombing the police, and trying to ensure destabilisation and economic collapse. They are good at destroying other countries, and they are implementing this here. Thank you, goodbye.

Timeline for 13th August, by 21:20

Provided data is operational and may be subject to verification.

13 August

21:20 Russian troops began pooling back towards north from the Tbilisi – Poti highway in Gori district. They still stay in town of Gori.

21:10 First cargo plane organized by American Military landed in Tbilisi International Airport.

21:00 Reports of eyewitness continue to com to police stations about atrocities and crimes committed by South Ossetian separatist forces.

20:12 Population of villages Breti and Aradeti, Kareli district is leaving their villages and moving towards Tbilisi. Ossetian separatists are robbing these villages.

18:00 Russian soldiers have robbed drivers of the Turkish travel company, taking their buses.

17:50 Residents of Gori are moving towards Tbilisi by feet, escaping from brutal attacks by Russian troops and Ossetian separatists.

17:15 According to the local residents that keep calling to police, the following villages are being ravaged by Russian troops and Ossetian Separatists:
Kareli district – Avnevi, Tseronisi, Knolevi.
Kaspi district – Khandaki, Doesi, Karaghadi.
Gori district – Tkviavi.
Residents of Gori are being taken hostage and sent to Tskhinvali.

17:05 EU ministers have disseminated a statement in which they stressed that conflict should be solved within the context of the territorial integrity of Georgia, supported President Sarkozy’s principles of the conflict settlement, and expressed readiness to engage actively in the peacekeeping process, including the presence on the ground.

17:00 Russian troops that were moving towards Tbilisi have made a turn and are now heading to Uplistsikhe, Gori district.

16:10 Russian troops from the city of Gori started moving towards Tbilisi

15:20 Alisia Vardanyan, Georgian GPB television journalists reports from Gori that marauding has started in the city. The residents are being robbed; the houses are being demolished by Russian tanks.

15:15 According to the reports from the civilians on the ground, Georgian population of villages Bobnevi, Marana, Dzevera, Khidistavi, Tchalaubani is escaping to the forest from the Ossetian separatists.

15:00 Gigi Mtvarelidze, member of Georgian CEC, have been robbed by the Russian-speaking militaries nearby Gori. They took his car with other possessions.

14:45 Paata Sabelashvili, photographer, reported from highway nearby Gori that mini-bus with Georgian civilians have been robbed by Ossetian separatists, one of the passengers, 25-year old women has been kidnapped by the attackers.

14:20 Many residents of Gori are escaping towards the village of Ateni, south of Gori, according to the reports on the ground.

14:00 In Poti port Russian troops have blown up three Georgia Coast Guard vessels.

13:05 Village Pakhulani, Tsalenjikha district has been entered by Russian soldiers

13:00 According to reports from the ground, village of Atotsi, Kareli district, is entered by Ossetian separatists.

12:35 25 civilians have been kidnapped by Ossetian separatists from the village of Tkviavi. The bus, by which the kidnapped civilians were being transported to Tskhinvali crashed, after which 4 of them managed to escape.

12:00 Russian soldiers are destroying the base of Gori artillery brigade.

Public Defender of Georgia has appealed to the leaders of all democratic countries and international organizations not to leave Georgia alone, and to "take effective measures in order to guard the internationally recognized principles and to help the Georgian people to protect their freedom".

10:20 According to the local sources, Russian troops have entered Gori.

09:20 Russian armored troops (50 units) head towards Gori from Tskhinvali.

09:12 Four civilian cars with murdered passengers are reported to have been seen in the village of Tedotsminda, Gori district.

08:00 The village of Karaleti, Gori district has been attacked by Ossetian separatists again. Cases of physical assaults and abuses of the local residents are being reported.

01.05 According to the information from the local civilian sources, Ossetian separatists are taking hostage Georgian residents of villages Nikozi, Dzveri, Tkviavi, Karaleti (north of Gori).
Population of village Berbuki, Gori District is gathered on the road, asking to be evacuated.

Q&A: Georgian Genocide

Comment of the Press and Information Department to a question of the News-Georgia Agency concerning the statements of the Russian Authorities

Question: How would you assess the statements made by high-ranking Russian officials that Georgia carried out genocide against the Ossetian people?

Answer: First of all we would like to express our deep regret over the civilian casualties and convey our condolences to their families. Georgia considers as equally painful the tragedy of each person, irrespective of their ethnic origin.

Civilian casualties came as a direct consequence of the military actions conducted by Russian military troops on the territory of Georgia. It is the totally unjustifiable mass bombardments and artillery fire used by Russian armed forces in Tskhinvali and its adjacent territories that have claimed the lives of children, women and elderly people.

Russian servicemen guided by orders from their command and in complete disregard for all norms of international law are deliberately and consciously committing war crimes slaughtering unprotected civilians with their characteristic cold-blooded brutality. The city of Tskhinvali was flattened to ruins just like Grozny was destroyed a few years ago. Particularly cynical is the fact that the Russian Federation carries out such barbaric acts on the pretext of protecting its own citizens.

Despite the Russian President's pledge on the completion of the military operation, the Russian armed forces are still continuing active military actions against the peaceful population of Georgia. The Georgian Government and armed forces are taking necessary measures in order to prevent full occupation of Georgia and genocide of the population and overthrow of the democratically elected government as planned by Moscow.

We call on the international community to give a respective legal assessment to the genocide of the Georgian people conducted by the Russian Federation and render assistance to the Georgian Authorities in preventing the humanitarian catastrophe resulting from the Russian Federation’s undeclared war against Georgia and in eliminating its disastrous consequences.

Fact Sheet of Georgian Ethnic Cleansing by Russian Troops

August 13

14:45 Journalists reported that they witnessed Russian militaries stopping a bus going from Gori to Chiatura. The passangers were robbed and a 25 years old woman was kidnapped. (source: 893232375)

13:05 Russian military forces intruded in Tzalenjikha district village Fakhulidan.

13:00 Village Atoci of Kareli district is occupied by Russians and Kazaks. They are raping women and killing men. They are also shooting civilians towards Gori district.

12:42 Ts. Lomjaria from the President’s office reported that civilians are escaping from Gori to village Ateni who are followed by Russian troops. Civilians are asking for help.

12:40 A Georgian citizen Koba Kebadze called 022, reporting that 25 Georgian civilians were taken as hostages from village Tkviavi. Four of them could escape from them as the bus crashed on their way to destination. (source: koba qebaZe 898 40 16 89).

12:30 Iinga gelasvils (899 988355) was contacted from the number: 79280748570. She was informed that her husband and father in law along with other Georgians are taken as hostages in Tskhinvali and are demanding to exchange them.

11:20 The military bases and residential apartments near it are set on fire in Gori.

11:50 Georgian civilians from Gori are constantly calling reporting that they are being attacked and assaulted and are asking for immediate help.

10:23 About 50 heavy artillery units have intruded into Gori. The local policy has been evacuated and the Georgian civilians are being assaulted. They are asking for help.

09:12 Four civilian cars with murdered passengers are reported to have been seen in the village of Tedotsminda, Gori district.

08:40 In village Udotzminda, on the Variani road, four destroyed cars were found, in which people are slaughtered. (source: 890333437)

08:40 Village Ruisi back surrounding area was bombed. (source: 893273334)

08:00 The village of Karaleti, Gori district has been attacked by Ossetian separatists again. The cases of physical assaults and abuses of the local residents are being reported.

06:50 Village Sakasheti of Gori district was shelled.

01.05 According to the information from the local civilian sources, Ossetian separatists are taking hostage Georgian residents of villages Nikozi, Dzveri, Tkviavi, Karaleti (north of Gori).
Population of village Berbuki, Gori District is gathered on the road, asking to be evacuated.

00:56 In Gori district villages: Niqozi, Dzevera, Tkhviavi and Karaleti Ossetians take Georgian hostages, according to source: leila pataSvili 899 964504

August 12

21:50 Along with Russian peacekeepers about one hundred Abkhazs have intruded in Ganmukhuri, where they continuously rob civilians.

21:45 City hall operator # 16 Inga Tziklauri called and reported that she received a phone call from a refugee Lomauri from the conflict region, who is staying at the relative’s house (63 59 82). Lomauri reported her that Gori district villages: Kordo, Arbo, Mereti, and Ditsi are being threatened by Ossetian armed forces. According to Inga Tziklauri (22:20), civilians from the above stated villages call her and desperately ask for help.

21:35 Alarming reports come from the villages of Argo and Ditsi north of Gori. According to the information from the local sources, Ossetian separatists are brutally massacring Georgian population of these villages.

According to the local sources, Georgian population of villages Kordi and Mereti, Gori district, is being brutally assaulted and abused by Ossetian separatists.

In Tchilisubani, Gori district, the local residents are hiding in the basements of their houses, asking to be evacuated.

21:35 Ossetian forming bands attack and assault Georgian civilians in village Tkviavi of Gori district. One murder has already been reported.

Ossetian forming bands attack, physically assault, and kill Georgian civilians in villages Ditsi and Argo of Gori district.

21:30 Military Police Department Assistant to the person on duty Sergeant Chkhikvishvili received a phone call from citizen Neli Balamtzarashvili (address: # 3 Mirtskhulava street, Tbilisi. Tel: 34 38 95). She notified the department that armed Ossetians threaten and terror civilians in village Ditsi.

21:20 Ossetians massacre all local Georgian inhabitants in village Arbo of Gori district. (source: 858343591)

21:04 Ethnically Georgian Gela Chixladze was murdered in village Tyviavi of Gori district.

21:00 A citizen of Georgia, Natia Pavliashvili (899 50 86 49) called the military headquarters. According to her, Vazha Gugutishvili’s family who are trapped in village Disevi reported her that Russian – Ossetian troops intruded in Disevi and started setting houses on fire one by one.

18:30 Ossetians intruded into village Disevi of Gori district, where they attack civilians and set houses on fire.

16:36 Ossetians attacked civilians and set houses on fire in village Karaleti of Gori district. Houses are burning down.

16:07 Russians rob the houses of Senaki military base officers. They mainly take away electronic devices.

15:28 A shell was dropped near village Agara. It exploded a minibus. Civilians were wounded and killed.

14:50 Village Sakoritno in Kaspi district and village Ruisi in Kareli district are bombed by Russian aviation forces.

14:20 A bomb was dropped on the house of Mamikashvili, inhabitant of village Tortiza, Gori district.

14:00 An ambulance vehicle was bombarded Russian military jets village Agara of Khashuri district.

13:25 Three Russian airplanes dropped bombs on the village of Orchosani near Gori.

11:03 Three Russian airplanes were identified in the airspace of Gori. They shelled the city hall and the central market of Gori. As a result houses were set on fire.

11:00 Village Tkviavi of Gori district was bombed. Buildings and houses were destroyed.

August 11

18:25 Ossetian separatists took Georgian hostages form village Beloti (near Eredvi) of Gori district. Hostages are shut up in a monastery yard.

18:10 Russian army intruded into village Shindisi, Gori district. Georgian civilians and militaries are escaping from the village.

17:50 Russian military airplane SU-24 bombed village Tkviavi of Gori district. Three houses were burned down and civilians were killed.

17:35 Russian military airplane SU-24 bombed village Kere of Gori district. One civilian is killed and one is heavily wounded.

10:00 Village of Eredvi came under the fire of Russian artillery.

05:00 Shiraki airfield in Dedoplistskaro District on the east of the country is bombed by Russian jets. Runways were destroyed.

03:05 Villages of Sharabidzeebi, Kapandichi, Makho near Batumi are bombed by Russian planes. Graveyard and villagers’ backyard have been hit. No casualties reported.

August 8 – 11

Chkhalta, administrative center of Upper Abkhazia was bombarded numerous time as result of this nearly all buildings in Ckhalta is destroyed.

August 8-11, 2008 Gori was bombarded numerous time as result 8 apartment blocks were destroyed living about 500 families without house. 15 civilians died, tens more are wounded. About 8 000 IDPs left Gori. About 4000 houses are totally destroyed in the villages of Gori district. Besides, this the hospital of Gori was destroyed.

Ethnic Cleansing of Georgian Polulation

Starting from 8 August 2008 to date, the Russian Federation has been engaged in carrying out the occupation of the Georgian territory. In this process the Russian side makes an active use of illegal bandit gangs and so-called North Caucasian volunteers present in Georgia’s conflict regions.

To our great regret, representatives of Abkhazia’s separatist authorities took advantage of the escalated situation in the Tskhinvali region and, in violation of all agreements and treaties signed up to this day and with the assistance of Russian ‘peacekeepers’, made an attack on Upper Abkhazia and invaded its entire territory. Just like in the 1990s, separatists, with the support of Russian troops, conducted a mass cleansing of the local population of ethnic Georgians.

Developments are following an analogous scenario in the Tskhinvali region as well, where ethnic Georgians are slaughtered daily with utter brutality.

Given the inertness of the international community, separatists and their ‘ally’ – the ‘brave’ Russian army - went on the rampage conducting ethnic cleansing and pillaging houses throughout the whole territory of Georgia. As a result, the casualty toll among the peaceful population in the city of Gori and its adjacent villages of Tedotsminda, Nikozi, Dzveri, Tkviavi, Karaleti, Berbuki, Argo, Ditsi, etc keeps rising day by day. Property is also being destroyed.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls on the international community, UN and OSCE in particular, as well as other international humanitarian organizations to employ all resources at their disposal to put an end to this atrocious crime against humanity raging throughout the territory of Georgia and immediately assign their experts to carry out monitoring on the ground.

Q&A: Georgia's withdrawal from CIS

Question: How would you assess the comment of spokesperson A. Nesterenko of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation to a question of Itar-Tass correspondent regarding President Saakashvili’s statement on Georgia’s withdrawal from CIS?

Answer: It is a sovereign right of each country to make a decision on its membership in any international organization. CIS as an international organization failed to meet Georgia’s expectations in terms of regulation of the conflicts as well as resolution of political and economic issues.

Mr. Nesterenko is apparently mistaken describing the decision on withdrawal from CIS as a hasty one. Georgia has long been preparing for taking this step. A special governmental commission was set up 2 years ago to study this issue.

Against the background of the Russian Federation waging an undeclared war in Georgia, Georgia considers as absolutely unacceptable its membership in the organization, which was established under the dictates and leadership of Russia.

Mr. Nesterenko claims that he is concerned about the fate of Georgia’s multinational population. Such statement by the spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry is absolutely immoral. The whole world has been a witness to Russia’s ‘care’ for Georgia, manifested in the bombardment of civilian targets and genocide of the population.

Timeline for August 13th to 16:10

Provided data is operational and may be subject to verification.

13 August

16:10 Russian troops from the city of Gori started moving towards Tbilisi

15:20 Alisia Vardanyan, Georgian GPB television journalists reports from Gori that marauding has started in the city. The residents are being robbed; the houses are being demolished by Russian tanks.

15:15 According to the reports from the civilians on the ground, Georgian population of villages Bobnevi, Marana, Dzevera, Khidistavi, Tchalaubani is escaping to the forest from the Ossetian separatists.

15:00 Gigi Mtvarelidze, member of Georgian CEC, have been robbed by the Russian-speaking militaries nearby Gori. They took his car with other possessions.

14:45 Paata Sabelashvili, photographer, reported from highway nearby Gori that mini-bus with Georgian civilians have been robbed by Ossetian separatists, one of the passengers, 25-year old women has been kidnapped by the attackers.

14:20 Many residents of Gori are escaping towards the village of Ateni, south of Gori, according to the reports on the ground.

14:00 In Poti port Russian troops have blown up three Georgia Coast Guard vessels.

13:05 Village Pakhulani, Tsalenjikha district has been entered by Russian soldiers

13:00 According to reports from the ground, village of Atotsi, Kareli district, is entered by Ossetian separatists.

12:35 25 civilians have been kidnapped by Ossetian separatists from the village of Tkviavi. The bus, by which the kidnapped civilians were being transported to Tskhinvali crashed, after which 4 of them managed to escape.

12:00 Russian soldiers are destroying the base of Gori artillery brigade.

Public Defender of Georgia has appealed to the leaders of all democratic countries and international organizations not to leave Georgia alone, and to "take effective measures in order to guard the internationally recognized principles and to help the Georgian people to protect their freedom".

10:20 According to the local sources, Russian troops have entered Gori.

09:20 Russian armored troops (50 units) head towards Gori from Tskhinvali.

09:12 Four civilian cars with murdered passengers are reported to have been seen in the village of Tedotsminda, Gori district.

08:00 The village of Karaleti, Gori district has been attacked by Ossetian separatists again. Cases of physical assaults and abuses of the local residents are being reported.

01.05 According to the information from the local civilian sources, Ossetian separatists are taking hostage Georgian residents of villages Nikozi, Dzveri, Tkviavi, Karaleti (north of Gori).
Population of village Berbuki, Gori District is gathered on the road, asking to be evacuated.

Russia Breaches Ceasefire Agreement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, August 13 - 13:30 CET

The Georgian Government notes with concern the decision by the Russian Federation to breach the terms of the ceasefire agreed last night by Presidents Saakashvili, Medvedev and Sarkozy.

Reports from the media, diplomatic sources and our own intelligence confirm that Russian tanks moved into Gori this morning. They are still there, and are firing their guns. Reports speak of summary executions of Georgian civilians in the area.

The Georgian Government calls on the international community to pressure the Russian Federation to immediately stop the operations of its troops and return to the areas agreed in the ceasefire. The Government remains committed to the agreed ceasefire, and insists that Russia abide by its terms.

Russian Tank Units Close Main Highway

According to reported information, on August 13, 2008 tank units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have closed the main highway which links the road from Tbilisi to Tskhinvali at the outskirsts of Gori.

Unofrtantly, we are forced to restate the very fact that the principal agreement reached between the sides on August 12, 2008, on the ceasefire and the return of the armed formations to the places of their permanent dislocation is being permanently violated by the Russian Federation.

In reference to this, we refer to the international community to use all the means at their disposal to stop Russia’s ongoing aggression.

August 13, 2008

Information for the Press

On 13 2008 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Grigol Vashadze met with with EU Special Representative for South Caucasus Peter Semneby and Head of the European Commission’s Delegation to Georgia Per Eklund

The sides discussed the developments in the last few days of the conflict between Georgia and Russia and active involvement of the international community, including the European Union in the conflict resolution process.

The Georgian Deputy Minister provided the foreign guests with exhaustive information about the developments in the last few days and underlined the importance of international support for Georgia in terms of overcoming both the crisis in Georgia and post conflict consequences.

The sides agreed to continue regular consultations in the future.

13 August 2008

Appeal to World Leaders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 13
Tbilisi, Georgia

Appeal of the Public Defender of Georgia to

Mr. BAN KI-MOON, Secretary Secretary General of the UN,
Mr. H.E. Srgjan Kerim, President of the General Assembly of the UN,
Mrs. Louise Arbor, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Mr. Hans-Gert PÖTTERING, President of the European Parliament,
Mr. José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission,
Mr. Javier Solana, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy,
Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union,
Mr. Carl Bildt, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden,
Mr. Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe,
Mr. Terry Davis, The Secretary General of the Council of Europe,
Mr. Lluís Maria de Puig, President of the PACE,
Mr. P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, European Ombudsman,
Mr. Marc Perrin, OSCE Secretary General,
Mr. Joao Soares, President of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

and the Leaders of democratic countries

Russian tanks have been occupying Georgian cities one after another and are pushing ahead to the capital of Georgia. I have never hesitated to reveal the mistakes that have been made in our country in terms of the protection of human rights and rule of law. I will not fall silent either in future. However, today when the Russian army openly started marching towards the capital of Georgia and has launched the occupation of our country, all other issues take a back seat as far as the only way to build the Free society in Georgia is to retain the independency.

The Georgian people have the power and ability to determine themselves the future of their country. The Georgian people will fight to the end in this unequal battle to defend their freedom.

I appeal to all international organizations and the leaders of all democratic countries not to leave my country alone in this fight, to take effective measures in order to guard the internationally recognized principles and to help the Georgian people to protect their Freedom.

Information Division, Office of Ombudsman of Georgia

Russian Black Sea Fleet Acts of Aggression

Acts of aggression committed by the Russian Black Sea Fleet

1. The landing force consisted of 4000 military personnel, battle tanks and other military hardware have been disembarked by the Russian Black Sea Fleet vessels in port of Ochamchira. The personnel have advanced towards the Kodori Gorge and attacked territory controlled by the Georgian side, while the battle tanks and other military hardware have advanced towards Senaki;


2. The guided missile cruiser has committed missile attack on Kodori;


3. On August 12 at 17.00-18.00 saboteurs have mined and exploded Border Police Coast Guard vessels that were not of military purpose. The Coast Guard vessels granted to Georgia by friendly countries in 1993 being in non operational condition were exploded as well.


4. The attack has been performed by 15-16 naval ships, including Guided Missile Cruiser “MOSKVA”, Landing Ship “Tsezar Kunikov” etc;


5. During communication with the captain of the port Poty vessel “Tsezar Kunikov” was using call-signs “BIGEL156”, “BIGEL159” etc.

Timeline by 13th of August 10:20

Provided data is operational and may be subject to verification.

13 August

10:20 According to the local sources, Russian troops have entered Gori.

09:20 Russian armored troops (50 units) head towards Gori from Tskhinvali.

09:12 Four civilian cars with murdered passengers are reported to have been seen in the village of Tedotsminda, Gori district.

08:00 The village of Karaleti, Gori district has been attacked by Ossetian separatists again. Cases of physical assaults and abuses of the local residents are being reported.

01.05 According to the information from the local civilian sources, Ossetian separatists are taking hostage Georgian residents of villages Nikozi, Dzveri, Tkviavi, Karaleti (north of Gori).
Population of village Berbuki, Gori District is gathered on the road, asking to be evacuated.

12 August

22:52 Three foreign journalists have been robbed of their car in the village of Karaleti, Gori District.

21:50 Senaki military base is being rampaged by Russian troops. Equipment and arms are being either taken or destroyed by Russians.

21:35 Alarming reports come from the villages of Argo and Ditsi north of Gori. According to the information from the local sources, Ossetian separatists are brutally massacring Georgian population of these villages.
According to the local sources, Georgian population of villages Kordi and Mereti, Gori district, is being brutally assaulted and abused by Ossetian separatists.
In Tkviavi, Gori district, Ossetian separatists are assaulting local Georgian residents. At least one murder is reported.
In Tchilisubani, Gori district, the local residents are hiding in the basements of their houses, asking to be evacuated.

19:10 Russian troops moved towards Khaishi, Svanetia north of the Zugdidi and occupied it. They entered Upper Abkhazia from the east.

18:30 South Ossetian separatists entered village Disevi in Gori district and committed acts of ethnic cleansing, burning houses and attacking population. Russian militaries are witnessing all these and are not reacting.

18:30 South Ossetian separatists entered village Karaleti in Gori district and committed acts of ethnic cleansing, burning houses and attacking population.

18:00 Village Tkotsa Khashuri district 4 bombes were droped. None of them exploded.

18:00 Russian militaries began exploding Georgian ships harbored in Poti port.

18:00The share holders of Kulevi Terminal have been notifed by Russian militaries about planed bombing of the oil terminal.

17:30 Abkhazian troops mobilized heavy armored vehicles in demilitarized zone in village Ganmukhuri which they took day before and organized customs.

16:30 Russian troops entered the territory of Gori TV transmition station. One employee has been killed three injured. Russians destroyed equipment of the station. As a result the only Russian speaking TV station Alanya TV is out of air. The region can not receive Georgian Public Broadcasting channel as well.

16:30 At the grand rally held in Tbilisi, the President Saakashvili announced about the decision of the government of Georgia to withdraw from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

14:50 Village Sakoritno in Kaspi region and village Ruisi in Kareli region are bombed by Russian aviation

14:00 In village Agara (Khashuri region) Russian military jets bombarded an ambulance vehicle.

13:25 Three Russian airplanes dropped bombs on the village of Orchosani near Gori.

12:30 Vasiani base nearby Tbilisi has been bombed by Russian planes.

12:25 Oil pipeline 5 km from the city of Rustavi has been bombed.

10:15 Russian planes bombed Gori. The territory around administration building and city market have been bombed.

In the morning ours of 12 August Russian airplanes bombed the village of Tkviavi near Tskhinvali once again.

03:25 Russian envoy to the UN Churkin announced in a press conference that Russia will not support the resolution. Georgian envoy Alasania announced that the suggested resolution is acceptable to Georgia.

02:15 Emergency meeting of the Security Council of the UN started. The resolution about cease-fire prepared by France was discussed.

02:05 Russian aviation bombarded Kaspi 30 Kms from Tbilisi out of conflict zone. 3 bombs were dropped near the Heidelberg Cement factory (one of two cement factories in the country). No damage was reported.

01:15 President of the United States George W. Bush made supportive statement to Georgia. "Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century," the president said in a televised statement from the White House, calling on Moscow to sign on to the outlines of a cease-fire as the Georgian government has done

11 August

20:30 Russian Army took Gori and cut main highway connecting Western and Eastern parts of the country.

20:10 The invading army of the Russian Federation has advanced outside the conflict zones of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Russian army units moved towards the city of Gori. The Georgian army is retreating to defend the capital. The Government is urgently seeking international intervention to prevent the fall of Georgia and the further loss of life.

19:30 Russian troopes advanced deep into Georgian territory from west and entered Senaki 210 Kms from Tbilisi, out of the conflict zone.

19:20 US deputy assistant secretary made supportive announcement to Georgia. He mentioned that, time would come when International Peace keeping force will enter Georgia and restore Georgia’s territorial Integrity.

19:00 The camp for IDPs was opened in Tbilisi.

18:20 Ossetian separatist forces entered village Beloti near Eredvi. They took hostage remaining civilian population and locked them in local church.

18:10 Russian Troops attacked and took village Shindisi of Gori district.

17:30 Russian Aviation bombed village Kere of Gori District.

Russian peace keepers with heavy equipment entered Zugdidi to disarm local police. By 17:00 they began to occupy administrative buildings. http://www.gpb.ge/moambe_news.php?lang=geo&tm_id=0&news_id=16206

14:30 Senaki base is bombed by Russian aviation.

13:30 President Saakashvili signs a ceasefire agreement, prepared by the foreign ministers of France, Finland, and Georgia. The foreign ministers of France and Finland are taking the agreement to Moscow in order to persuade President Medvedev to sign it.
http://www.gpb.ge/moambe_news.php?lang=eng&tm_id=0&news_id=16190

12:05 Russian aviation is bombing Georgian servicemen in Upper Abkhazia.

10:00 Village of Eredvi came under the fire of Russian artillery.

07:15 Senaki airport is bombed by Russian airplanes.

06:10 Gori tank battalion is bombed. A civilian apartment building nearby has been hit.

05:00 Shiraki airfield in Dedoplistskaro District on the east of the country is bombed by Russian jets.

04:37 Civilian radar station on Makhata mount in 5 kilometers from downtown Tbilisi is bombed by Russian planes.

03:05 Villages of Sharabidzeebi, Kapandichi, Makho near Batumi are bombed by Russian planes. Graveyard and villagers’ backyard have been hit. No casualties

00:30 Civilian radar station in the village of Shavshvebi west of Tbilisi is bombed by Russian planes.

00:00 Five wounded policemen transported to Zugdidi hospital from Upper Abkhazia.

10 August

20:00 Positional fighting near village of Qvabchara in Upper Abkhazia.

19:10 "Tbilaviamsheni" aviation factory was bombarded by Russian aviation again.

19:05 Russian aviation dropped bomb on Tbilisi International Airport.

18:00 The Black Sea town of Anaklia 280 km from Tbilisi, is bombed by Russian airplanes. No casualties reported

17:30 Georgian Ministry of Foreign affairs handed diplomatic note to the Charg d’affaires of Russian embassy Mr Smag. According to the order of the president Georgia, Georgian Government forces stopped fire in the conflict zone.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Karasin announced the terms of ceasefire. Georgia have to withdraw on the positions existing before the beginning of the conflict and take responsibility of non use of force.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation announced that journalists wanting to enter Russian-Georgian conflict zone have to have special accreditation from Ministry of Defense and second accreditation from Ministry of Foreign affairs of Russia.

16:10 Russian aviation bombarded only remaining bridge on the Highway linking eastern and western parts of the country. There was a fire on the bridge. Fire is extinguished. The traffic is restored.

16:05 Gori is being bombed by Russian aviation.

15:10 Russian troops and Abkhaz separatists launch ground attack on Upper Abkhazia. The region is being bombed by Russian aviation.

15:00 Russian airplanes bomb the village of Knolevi in the northern Kareli district.

12:00 20 to 25 thousand IDPs from the regions of Tskhinvali and Gori, as a result of Russian attacks. The number of IDPs is growing quickly.

09:00 Government of Georgia reported 45 soldiers and 47 civilians died.

08:45 Ten Russian jets attack Upper Abkhazia. One jet has been downed by Georgian Government troops.

07:40 Russian jets bomb village of Urta in Zugdidi district.

07:00 Georgian Government Forces withdraw from Tskhinvali. Russian General Khrulyov, commander of the invading 58th army was wounded after shelling Russian military convoy by Georgian artillery.

05:45 Russian jet entered Georgian airspace from Dagestan and dropped 3 Bombs on Tbilisi airplane factory.

6,000 Russian troops enter Georgia through Roki tunnel overnight; 90 tanks; 150 Armored Personnel Carriers; 250 artillery gunships.

4,000 Russian troops land at port of Ochamchire in Abkhazia, from Black Sea port of Sevastopol.

9 August

22:30 Russian air forces bombarded Chkhalta, administrative center of Upper Abkhazia. No Casualties reported.

19:45 Tskhinvali is under ultimate control of Georgian Government troops. Russian Navy prevented Moldovan Cargo Ship Lotus - 1 carrying wheat from entering Poti Port. Lotus - 1 was forced to go back.

16:35 The town of Oni in northern Georgia is bombarded by Russian aviation.

16:15 Two Russian battleships are heading towards Poti port. By this time they are near Gudauta.

16:05 Four Russian jets flew over Upper Abkazia.

15:45 Abkhaz separatist leader Sergey Bagapsh announced the launch of bombardment of Upper Abkhazia.

14:30 The Parliament approved ordinance of the Declaration on the State of War and full mobilization.

14:00 Russian air force attack Upper Abkhazia (Kodori gorge) in several places, including the airdrome in the village of Omarishara.

12:40 Kopitnari airdrome is bombed again.

10:22 Russian air force continues to bomb Gori, located 60 kilometers northwest from Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone.

10:20 One more Russian military airplane is shot down in Gori, located 60 kilometers northwest from Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone. The pilot has been captured.

10:00 Russian air force bomb Kopitnari airdrome in several kilometers from Kutaisi. The entire 58th Russian Army, located in the North Caucasus, enters the South Ossetia region. They are engaged in battle with the Georgian army in Tskhinvali, which is in the conflict zone and 92 kilometers northwest from Tbilisi.

01:20 Gatchiani in the Gardabani districts was bombarded, which is 20 kilometers southeast of Tbilisi and outside the conflict zone and is also close to the BTC pipeline, but the pipeline is not damaged.

01:00 Poti was bombarded a second time, which is located on the Black Sea coast, 260 kilometers west from Tbilisi, is outside the conflict zone and is a pure civilian target.

00:34 Person calling himself "Armen" calls the 022 Patrol Police number and says a bomb is planted in President’s Residence. He also says the new President Administration and Ministry of Internal Affair buildings will soon be bombarded.

00:20 Vaziani airfield is bombed again, which is 2-3 kilometers from Tbilisi International Airport and is located outside the conflict zone.

00:17 Lightening bombs are dropped on Senaki military base, which is 213 kilometers west of Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone. 1 serviceman and 5 reservists were reported killed. The railway station in Senaki is also bombed and eight are killed.

00:12 Poti port, which is located on the Black Sea coast, 260 kilometers west from Tbilisi, is outside the conflict zone and is a pure civilian target, is bombed heavily.

8 August

22:40 According to Ministry of Defense, Russian planes violated Georgian airspace a total of 22 times.

22:15 The type and place of Russian planes taken down during the day not located yet.

21:45 Policemen and reservists who were surrounded in the Znauri school bulding, five kilometers west of Tskinvali, are rescued by government forces.

21:11 The separatist authorities claim to have altogether 1400 people dead and wounded. At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defense announces that there are 10 dead among Russian "peacekeepers".

20:30 After severe clashes in Tskinvali, Georgian forces start to withdraw from the center of the town, holding their positions at its southern outskirts. Russian tanks enter the eastern part of Tskinvali.

19:20 2 Russian planes pass over Ambrolauri, which is 170 kilometers northwest of Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone.

19:18 5 Russian airplanes were shot down during the day. Last one is shot down at approximately 19:00 near Tskhinvali.

18:45 Georgian Gori artillery brigade is bombarded by 5 Russian airplanes.

18:44 A motorcade of Russian tanks, armored vehicles and trucks loaded with different kinds of weapons reach Tskinvali by the Dzara by-pass road, 2 kilometers west of Tskinvali. The Russians opens intensive fire towards Georgian forces located in Tskinvali and on the neighboring heights. A second motorcade, which also came from Russia via the Roki tunnel, is stopped near the Georgian government controlled area of Dmenisi, 7 kilometers north of Tskinvali, and Russians open heavy fire toward Georgian forces.

18:32 Frone gorge, northeat of Tskinvali, is under intensive artillery fire by Russian forces. Villages Avnevi and Phrisi, in the Tskinvali region, are bombarded by Russian military aircraft.

17:35 Marneuli military airbase, 20 kilometers south of Tbilisi and outside the conflict zone, is bombed for the third time resulting in 1 death and 4 injured. As a result of three bombings, three grounded AN-2 type planes and military vehicles stationed there are destroyed.

17:00 Marneuli military airbase is bombed for the second time causing casualties.

16.30 Russian aviation bombs Marneuli and Bolnisi military airbases, 20 kilometers and 35 kilometers south of Tbilisi respectively. Two aircrafts were destroyed on ground. Also several buildings were destroyed and there are casualties.

16:03 Two Russian planes enter Georgian airspace from the North. One more flies over Djava. Two more fly across the border near Chechnya.

16:00 about 40 officers of Criminal Police and Reservists are trapped in Znauri school.

15:30 Ossetian separatists destroyed 3 Georgian tanks at Dzari by-pass road.

15:05 Russian military plane enters Georgia from the direction of Tedzami, just south of Gori, and drop two bombs on the Vaziani military airport and turned back.

14.30 Almost 100% of Tskhinvali is controlled by Georgian forces. Just several small groupings are still resisting.

14.15 Georgian government announces a ceasefire from 15.00 till 18.00 to let civilian population leave Tskhinvali. Separatists are also offered amnesty and humanitarian aid if they surrender.

13:00 Part of Thskinvali is controlled by Georgian army and fighting continues in the center. The civilian population does not resist. They are ordered to stay inside their houses.

12.05 One Su-24 enters Georgian air space from Russia and remained over Tskhinvali till 12.15.

12.00 Eight Georgians (6 military and 2 civilians) have died and 87 are injured. 1 military truck with ammunition was destroyed.

11:45 Emergency Service of Civil Aviation report receiving a signal from a crashed flying object (presumably Russian fighter plane) near Iuri range, 17 km south from Gori.

11.45: Four Su-24 Russian jet enter Georgia from the direction of Stepantsminda (Kazbeg), northeast of the Roki tunnel and outside of the conflict zone. Two of them pass Tbilisi and make two circles around Marneuli. The other two make a circle above Gudauri.

10:57: Two of the six Russian aircraft drop three bombs in Gori. One of these fell near the stadium, the second near Gorijvari slope and third near an artillery brigade.

10.50: Six Su-24 fighter planes enter from the Roki pass.

10.30 Russian Su-24 bombs the village of Variani in the Kareli district, 75 kilometers west of Tbilisi and outside the conflict zone. Seven civilians were injured as a result.

9.45: A Russian military fighter plane drops about 3-5 bombs near the village of Shavshvebi, on the highway between Poti and Tbilisi and is 300-500 meters from Georgian military radar.

9:00 Georgian Forces control the villages of Gromi, Artsevi, Tsinagara, Znauri, Sarabuki, Khetagurovo, Atotsi, Kvemo Okuna, Dmenisi, Muguti and Didmukha.

8:00: First group of Russian troops together with Gufta Bridge are destroyed by a Georgian aerial bombardment. Later two more groups of Russian troops enter South Ossetia through the Roki tunnel, which connects Russia and Georgia, but could not cross the Gufta Bridge which was destroyed and moved by the Geri-Dmenisi road.

5:30: First Russian troops enter through Roki tunnel South Ossetia, passed Java, crossed Gufta bridge and moved by Dzara road towards Tskhinvali.

4:28: Georgian armed forces are in control of six villages in the Tskhinvali region: Muguti, Dmenisi, Didmukha, Okona, Akut and Kohati. It is also reported that Georgian forces entered the village of Khetagurovo.

2:45: Reports are received of Georgian troops occupying the villages of Didmukha, Muguti and Dmenisi.

7 August

During the night and early morning intensive fire came from the Ossetian villages of Khetagurovo, Dmenisi, Sarabuki, and Ubiat. Separatist authorities continued shelling Georgian law enforcers and Peacekeeping units with mortars and artillery. The central authorities responded with limited fire in order to defend the positions.

In the morning interview with Russian news agencies, South Ossetian de facto president Eduard Kokoity declared that if the Georgian government did not withdraw its military forces from the region, he would start "to clean them out."

President Saakashvili speaking with journalists in the military hospital in Gori, where he visited the two injured Georgian servicemen, said that despite attacks on the Georgian villages, Tbilisi was showing "maximum restraint." Saakashvili also called on Russia to "to recall its officials" from South Ossetia, who consider themselves as the so-called South Ossetian government.

Temur Yakobashvili, visited the conflict zone in the morning of August 7 to meet with representatives of the separatist government. The State Minister met with Marat Kulakhmetov, commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces, in Tskhinvali. But, the separatists refused to negotiate with him.

The chairman of the separatist republic’s Security Council, Anatoly Barankevich threatened that armed groupings of Cossacks from North Ossetia were headed towards South Ossetia to fight against Georgian forces.

The separatists resumed shelling of Georgian villages Nuli and Avnevi by 16:00. Three Georgian servicemen were injured after the South Ossetian separatist forces blew up an infantry combat vehicle belonging to the Georgian peacekeeping battalion in Avnevi. Georgian police responded by firing towards the separatist armed grouping in village Khetagurovo, where two separatist militiamen were killed and two more wounded. Later, the check-point of Georgian peacekeepers was bombed in Avnevi and several Georgian servicemen and civilians were killed.

Georgia has decided to "unilaterally cease fire" in a sign of Tbilisi’s willingness to defuse tensions, Temur Yakobashvili, the Georgian state minister for reintegration, announced at a press conference in Tbilisi at 6:40pm. Yakobashvili said that he was not able to get in touch with the separatist authorities.

President Saakashvili said in a live televised address made at 7:10pm, that he had ordered the Georgian forces to cease fire in South Ossetia. He said there were casualties, both dead and many people wounded. Saakashvili said that he ordered to cease fire "on purpose" to again offer the South Ossetian secessionists to resume talks.

Despite Georgia’s decision not to return fire, the Georgian village of Avnevi again came under fire of the South Ossetian militiamen at about 8:30pm. It can be said that the village was totally destroyed as a result.

The South Ossetian separatist armed groupings fired at the Georgian-controlled village of Prisi at about 10:30 pm. The attack left several people wounded on the Georgian side.

The separatist authorities opened fire at all Georgian positions around the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali at about 23:30, including the villages of Tamarasheni and Kurta. The police stations in Kurta was destroyed as a result of heavy shelling.

According to witnesses from local population, at about 9.45 a military fighter plane, presumably Russian (it entered Georgia from South Ossetian side) dropped off about 3-5 bombs near village Shavshvebi, 300-500 meters from Georgian military radar.

6 August

Late on 6 August, separatists opened mortar fire at Georgian populated villages of Eredvi, Prisi, Avnevi, Dvani and Nuli. Georgian government forces fired back in order to defend the positions and civilian population. As a result of intensive cross-fire during the night, two servicemen of the Georgian battalion of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces were injured. Separatist regime also claimed several injured persons on their side. Despite the targeted attacks on peaceful population and villages, as well as on the Georgian police and peacekeeping forces, the central authorities decided not to respond through heavy exchange of fire, in order not to injure the local population.

Temur Yakobashvili, Georgian chief negotiator and state minister for reintegration, said in late night televised remarks on August 6 that it was the position of the Georgian government that only a direct dialogue with Tskinvali authorities would solve the deteriorating security situation. Mr. Yakobashvili also stressed that Ambassador-at-large Yuri Popov would attend the talks as a facilitator. South Ossetian chief negotiator, Boris Chochiev, refused to take part in negotiations.

During 4 and 5 August no serious incidents have been observed.

3 August

South Ossetian separatist government announced evacuation of more than 500 people, including about 400 children. However, Ermak Dzansolov, deputy prime minister of Russia’s North Ossetian Republic, told Interfax news agency that it was not an evacuation. Sending children to North Ossetia was part of a pre-arranged summer-camp programme, as he explained.

Russian media outlets started a massive propaganda campaign against Georgia.

South Ossetian media sources reported on the mobilization of volunteers across the North Caucasus.

2 August

Six civilians and one Georgian policeman were injured after the shelling of Georgian villages in the South Ossetian conflict zone overnight. The Georgian-controlled villages of Zemo Nikozi, Kvemo Nikozi, Nuli, Avnevi, Eredvi and Ergneti came under intense fire from the South Ossetian separatists with large calibre mortars. Georgian law enforcers shot back defensively for some time, but then received an order of ceasefire in order not to escalate the situation.

1 August

At about 8:00 AM, Tbilisi time, a pickup vehicle with six Georgian police officers was hit by two remote control explosive devices on the Eredvi-Kheiti by-pass road linking the Didi Liakhvi Gorge – a Georgian enclave north of the breakaway region’s capital Tskhinvali - with Georgia proper. As a result of the attack, five Georgian policemen were severely wounded. The central authorities decided not to retaliate in order not to escalate the situation.

Russian Fighter Jets Bomb Tbilisi’s Civilian Airport

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, August 10 • 20:30 Tbilisi, Georgia

The Government of Georgia confirms that at 19:00 local time, Russian aircraft bombed the civilian airport in Tbilisi. There is no military activity of any kind at the airport.

The attack occurred several hours after Georgia offered a formal ceasefire to Russia, via Russia’s Ambassador to Georgia, and declared Georgia’s readiness to immediately start negotiations with the Russian Federation on the termination of hostilities.

The Secretary of Georgia’s National Security Commission, Alexander Lomaia, released the following statement:

“The attack on Tbilisi Airport offers further evidence that Russia’s invasion of Georgia is not about Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The goal of the Russian Federation—which today also blockaded our Black Sea ports and is relentlessly bombing civilian sites throughout the country—is to overthrow the democratically elected government of this small European nation.”

Press and Information Department response

Reply of the Press and Information Department to a question of the Georgia-News Agency concerning the possible ethnic persecution of Georgian citizens and ethnic Georgians in the Russian Federation

Question: How would you assess reports by Russian mass media sources about the possible ethnic persecution of Georgian citizens and ethnic Georgians in the Russian Federation?

Answer: We all keep a vivid memory of the immoral campaign launched by the Russian Authorities in autumn of 2006 aiming at violation of basic human rights, including the right to life, of the citizens of Georgia and ethnic Georgians (actions of the Russian Authorities then claimed the lives of a number of people)

Russian mass media sources, including Internet magazines, are currently disseminating various reports on this issue. Alexander Belov, leader of Movement Against Illegal Migration, notorious for his xenophobic sentiments, announced on 11 August that ‘he arranges raids in Moscow, aiming at the places where the Georgians tend to crowd’. Meanwhile, the Russian Authorities officially deny allegations about any kind of harassment of the citizens of Georgia and ethnic Georgians. However, it is a well- known fact that Russia’s official structures are patronizing, whether openly or secretly, the organizations promoting ethnic and racial hatred and carrying out acts of violence against people of different racial or ethnic origin.

We keep a close watch over the development of events in Russia and declare that all responsibility for any act of violence, whoever its perpetrators, against the citizens of Georgia and ethnic Georgians will fall on the Russian Authorities.

Press and Information Department

Timeline by 12th of August 14:50

12 August

14:50 Village Sakoritno in Kaspi region and village Ruisi in Kareli region are bombed by Russian aviation

14:00 In village Agara (Khashuri region) Russian military jets bombarded an ambulance vehicle.

13:25 Three Russian airplanes dropped bombs on the village of Orchosani near Gori.

12:30 Vasiani base nearby Tbilisi has been bombed by Russian planes.

12:25 Oil pipeline 5 km from the city of Rustavi has been bombed.

10:15 Russian planes bombed Gori. The territory around administration building and city market have been bombed.

In the morning ours of 12 August Russian airplanes bombed the village of Tkviavi near Tskhinvali once again.

03:25 Russian envoy to the UN Churkin announced in a press conference that Russia will not support the resolution. Georgian envoy Alasania announced that the suggested resolution is acceptable to Georgia.

02:15 Emergency meeting of the Security Council of the UN started. The resolution about cease-fire prepared by France was discussed.

02:05 Russian aviation bombarded Kaspi 30 Kms from Tbilisi out of conflict zone. 3 bombs were dropped near the Heidelberg Cement factory (one of two cement factories in the country). No damage was reported.

01:15 President of the United States George W. Bush made supportive statement to Georgia. "Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century," the president said in a televised statement from the White House, calling on Moscow to sign on to the outlines of a cease-fire as the Georgian government has done

11 August

20:30 Russian Army took Gori and cut main highway connecting Western and Eastern parts of the country.

20:10 The invading army of the Russian Federation has advanced outside the conflict zones of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Russian army units moved towards the city of Gori. The Georgian army is retreating to defend the capital. The Government is urgently seeking international intervention to prevent the fall of Georgia and the further loss of life.

19:30 Russian troopes advanced deep into Georgian territory from west and entered Senaki 210 Kms from Tbilisi, out of the conflict zone.

19:20 US deputy assistant secretary made supportive announcement to Georgia. He mentioned that, time would come when International Peace keeping force will enter Georgia and restore Georgia’s territorial Integrity.

19:00 The camp for IDPs was opened in Tbilisi.

18:20 Ossetian separatist forces entered village Beloti near Eredvi. They took hostage remaining civilian population and locked them in local church.

18:10 Russian Troops attacked and took village Shindisi of Gori district.

17:30 Russian Aviation bombed village Kere of Gori District.

Russian peace keepers with heavy equipment entered Zugdidi to disarm local police. By 17:00 they began to occupy administrative buildings. http://www.gpb.ge/moambe_news.php?lang=geo&tm_id=0&news_id=16206

14:30 Senaki base is bombed by Russian aviation.

13:30 President Saakashvili signs a ceasefire agreement, prepared by the foreign ministers of France, Finland, and Georgia. The foreign ministers of France and Finland are taking the agreement to Moscow in order to persuade President Medvedev to sign it.
http://www.gpb.ge/moambe_news.php?lang=eng&tm_id=0&news_id=16190

12:05 Russian aviation is bombing Georgian servicemen in Upper Abkhazia.

10:00 Village of Eredvi came under the fire of Russian artillery.

07:15 Senaki airport is bombed by Russian airplanes.

06:10 Gori tank battalion is bombed. A civilian apartment building nearby has been hit.

05:00 Shiraki airfield in Dedoplistskaro District on the east of the country is bombed by Russian jets.

04:37 Civilian radar station on Makhata mount in 5 kilometers from downtown Tbilisi is bombed by Russian planes.

03:05 Villages of Sharabidzeebi, Kapandichi, Makho near Batumi are bombed by Russian planes. Graveyard and villagers’ backyard have been hit. No casualties

00:30 Civilian radar station in the village of Shavshvebi west of Tbilisi is bombed by Russian planes.

00:00 Five wounded policemen transported to Zugdidi hospital from Upper Abkhazia.

10 August

20:00 Positional fighting near village of Qvabchara in Upper Abkhazia.

19:10 "Tbilaviamsheni" aviation factory was bombarded by Russian aviation again.

19:05 Russian aviation dropped bomb on Tbilisi International Airport.

18:00 The Black Sea town of Anaklia 280 km from Tbilisi, is bombed by Russian airplanes. No casualties reported

17:30 Georgian Ministry of Foreign affairs handed diplomatic note to the Charg d’affaires of Russian embassy Mr Smag. According to the order of the president Georgia, Georgian Government forces stopped fire in the conflict zone.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Karasin announced the terms of ceasefire. Georgia have to withdraw on the positions existing before the beginning of the conflict and take responsibility of non use of force.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation announced that journalists wanting to enter Russian-Georgian conflict zone have to have special accreditation from Ministry of Defense and second accreditation from Ministry of Foreign affairs of Russia.

16:10 Russian aviation bombarded only remaining bridge on the Highway linking eastern and western parts of the country. There was a fire on the bridge. Fire is extinguished. The traffic is restored.

16:05 Gori is being bombed by Russian aviation.

15:10 Russian troops and Abkhaz separatists launch ground attack on Upper Abkhazia. The region is being bombed by Russian aviation.

15:00 Russian airplanes bomb the village of Knolevi in the northern Kareli district.

12:00 20 to 25 thousand IDPs from the regions of Tskhinvali and Gori, as a result of Russian attacks. The number of IDPs is growing quickly.

09:00 Government of Georgia reported 45 soldiers and 47 civilians died.

08:45 Ten Russian jets attack Upper Abkhazia. One jet has been downed by Georgian Government troops.

07:40 Russian jets bomb village of Urta in Zugdidi district.

07:00 Georgian Government Forces withdraw from Tskhinvali. Russian General Khrulyov, commander of the invading 58th army was wounded after shelling Russian military convoy by Georgian artillery.

05:45 Russian jet entered Georgian airspace from Dagestan and dropped 3 Bombs on Tbilisi airplane factory.

6,000 Russian troops enter Georgia through Roki tunnel overnight; 90 tanks; 150 Armored Personnel Carriers; 250 artillery gunships.

4,000 Russian troops land at port of Ochamchire in Abkhazia, from Black Sea port of Sevastopol.

9 August

22:30 Russian air forces bombarded Chkhalta, administrative center of Upper Abkhazia. No Casualties reported.

19:45 Tskhinvali is under ultimate control of Georgian Government troops. Russian Navy prevented Moldovan Cargo Ship Lotus - 1 carrying wheat from entering Poti Port. Lotus - 1 was forced to go back.

16:35 The town of Oni in northern Georgia is bombarded by Russian aviation.

16:15 Two Russian battleships are heading towards Poti port. By this time they are near Gudauta.

16:05 Four Russian jets flew over Upper Abkazia.

15:45 Abkhaz separatist leader Sergey Bagapsh announced the launch of bombardment of Upper Abkhazia.

14:30 The Parliament approved ordinance of the Declaration on the State of War and full mobilization.

14:00 Russian air force attack Upper Abkhazia (Kodori gorge) in several places, including the airdrome in the village of Omarishara.

12:40 Kopitnari airdrome is bombed again.

10:22 Russian air force continues to bomb Gori, located 60 kilometers northwest from Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone.

10:20 One more Russian military airplane is shot down in Gori, located 60 kilometers northwest from Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone. The pilot has been captured.

10:00 Russian air force bomb Kopitnari airdrome in several kilometers from Kutaisi. The entire 58th Russian Army, located in the North Caucasus, enters the South Ossetia region. They are engaged in battle with the Georgian army in Tskhinvali, which is in the conflict zone and 92 kilometers northwest from Tbilisi.

01:20 Gatchiani in the Gardabani districts was bombarded, which is 20 kilometers southeast of Tbilisi and outside the conflict zone and is also close to the BTC pipeline, but the pipeline is not damaged.

01:00 Poti was bombarded a second time, which is located on the Black Sea coast, 260 kilometers west from Tbilisi, is outside the conflict zone and is a pure civilian target.

00:34 Person calling himself "Armen" calls the 022 Patrol Police number and says a bomb is planted in President’s Residence. He also says the new President Administration and Ministry of Internal Affair buildings will soon be bombarded.

00:20 Vaziani airfield is bombed again, which is 2-3 kilometers from Tbilisi International Airport and is located outside the conflict zone.

00:17 Lightening bombs are dropped on Senaki military base, which is 213 kilometers west of Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone. 1 serviceman and 5 reservists were reported killed. The railway station in Senaki is also bombed and eight are killed.

00:12 Poti port, which is located on the Black Sea coast, 260 kilometers west from Tbilisi, is outside the conflict zone and is a pure civilian target, is bombed heavily.

8 August

22:40 According to Ministry of Defense, Russian planes violated Georgian airspace a total of 22 times.

22:15 The type and place of Russian planes taken down during the day not located yet.

21:45 Policemen and reservists who were surrounded in the Znauri school bulding, five kilometers west of Tskinvali, are rescued by government forces.

21:11 The separatist authorities claim to have altogether 1400 people dead and wounded. At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defense announces that there are 10 dead among Russian "peacekeepers".

20:30 After severe clashes in Tskinvali, Georgian forces start to withdraw from the center of the town, holding their positions at its southern outskirts. Russian tanks enter the eastern part of Tskinvali.

19:20 2 Russian planes pass over Ambrolauri, which is 170 kilometers northwest of Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone.

19:18 5 Russian airplanes were shot down during the day. Last one is shot down at approximately 19:00 near Tskhinvali.

18:45 Georgian Gori artillery brigade is bombarded by 5 Russian airplanes.

18:44 A motorcade of Russian tanks, armored vehicles and trucks loaded with different kinds of weapons reach Tskinvali by the Dzara by-pass road, 2 kilometers west of Tskinvali. The Russians opens intensive fire towards Georgian forces located in Tskinvali and on the neighboring heights. A second motorcade, which also came from Russia via the Roki tunnel, is stopped near the Georgian government controlled area of Dmenisi, 7 kilometers north of Tskinvali, and Russians open heavy fire toward Georgian forces.

18:32 Frone gorge, northeat of Tskinvali, is under intensive artillery fire by Russian forces. Villages Avnevi and Phrisi, in the Tskinvali region, are bombarded by Russian military aircraft.

17:35 Marneuli military airbase, 20 kilometers south of Tbilisi and outside the conflict zone, is bombed for the third time resulting in 1 death and 4 injured. As a result of three bombings, three grounded AN-2 type planes and military vehicles stationed there are destroyed.

17:00 Marneuli military airbase is bombed for the second time causing casualties.

16.30 Russian aviation bombs Marneuli and Bolnisi military airbases, 20 kilometers and 35 kilometers south of Tbilisi respectively. Two aircrafts were destroyed on ground. Also several buildings were destroyed and there are casualties.

16:03 Two Russian planes enter Georgian airspace from the North. One more flies over Djava. Two more fly across the border near Chechnya.

16:00 about 40 officers of Criminal Police and Reservists are trapped in Znauri school.

15:30 Ossetian separatists destroyed 3 Georgian tanks at Dzari by-pass road.

15:05 Russian military plane enters Georgia from the direction of Tedzami, just south of Gori, and drop two bombs on the Vaziani military airport and turned back.

14.30 Almost 100% of Tskhinvali is controlled by Georgian forces. Just several small groupings are still resisting.

14.15 Georgian government announces a ceasefire from 15.00 till 18.00 to let civilian population leave Tskhinvali. Separatists are also offered amnesty and humanitarian aid if they surrender.

13:00 Part of Thskinvali is controlled by Georgian army and fighting continues in the center. The civilian population does not resist. They are ordered to stay inside their houses.

12.05 One Su-24 enters Georgian air space from Russia and remained over Tskhinvali till 12.15.

12.00 Eight Georgians (6 military and 2 civilians) have died and 87 are injured. 1 military truck with ammunition was destroyed.

11:45 Emergency Service of Civil Aviation report receiving a signal from a crashed flying object (presumably Russian fighter plane) near Iuri range, 17 km south from Gori.

11.45: Four Su-24 Russian jet enter Georgia from the direction of Stepantsminda (Kazbeg), northeast of the Roki tunnel and outside of the conflict zone. Two of them pass Tbilisi and make two circles around Marneuli. The other two make a circle above Gudauri.

10:57: Two of the six Russian aircraft drop three bombs in Gori. One of these fell near the stadium, the second near Gorijvari slope and third near an artillery brigade.

10.50: Six Su-24 fighter planes enter from the Roki pass.

10.30 Russian Su-24 bombs the village of Variani in the Kareli district, 75 kilometers west of Tbilisi and outside the conflict zone. Seven civilians were injured as a result.

9.45: A Russian military fighter plane drops about 3-5 bombs near the village of Shavshvebi, on the highway between Poti and Tbilisi and is 300-500 meters from Georgian military radar.

9:00 Georgian Forces control the villages of Gromi, Artsevi, Tsinagara, Znauri, Sarabuki, Khetagurovo, Atotsi, Kvemo Okuna, Dmenisi, Muguti and Didmukha.

8:00: First group of Russian troops together with Gufta Bridge are destroyed by a Georgian aerial bombardment. Later two more groups of Russian troops enter South Ossetia through the Roki tunnel, which connects Russia and Georgia, but could not cross the Gufta Bridge which was destroyed and moved by the Geri-Dmenisi road.

5:30: First Russian troops enter through Roki tunnel South Ossetia, passed Java, crossed Gufta bridge and moved by Dzara road towards Tskhinvali.

4:28: Georgian armed forces are in control of six villages in the Tskhinvali region: Muguti, Dmenisi, Didmukha, Okona, Akut and Kohati. It is also reported that Georgian forces entered the village of Khetagurovo.

2:45: Reports are received of Georgian troops occupying the villages of Didmukha, Muguti and Dmenisi.

7 August

During the night and early morning intensive fire came from the Ossetian villages of Khetagurovo, Dmenisi, Sarabuki, and Ubiat. Separatist authorities continued shelling Georgian law enforcers and Peacekeeping units with mortars and artillery. The central authorities responded with limited fire in order to defend the positions.

In the morning interview with Russian news agencies, South Ossetian de facto president Eduard Kokoity declared that if the Georgian government did not withdraw its military forces from the region, he would start "to clean them out."

President Saakashvili speaking with journalists in the military hospital in Gori, where he visited the two injured Georgian servicemen, said that despite attacks on the Georgian villages, Tbilisi was showing "maximum restraint." Saakashvili also called on Russia to "to recall its officials" from South Ossetia, who consider themselves as the so-called South Ossetian government.

Temur Yakobashvili, visited the conflict zone in the morning of August 7 to meet with representatives of the separatist government. The State Minister met with Marat Kulakhmetov, commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces, in Tskhinvali. But, the separatists refused to negotiate with him.

The chairman of the separatist republic’s Security Council, Anatoly Barankevich threatened that armed groupings of Cossacks from North Ossetia were headed towards South Ossetia to fight against Georgian forces.

The separatists resumed shelling of Georgian villages Nuli and Avnevi by 16:00. Three Georgian servicemen were injured after the South Ossetian separatist forces blew up an infantry combat vehicle belonging to the Georgian peacekeeping battalion in Avnevi. Georgian police responded by firing towards the separatist armed grouping in village Khetagurovo, where two separatist militiamen were killed and two more wounded. Later, the check-point of Georgian peacekeepers was bombed in Avnevi and several Georgian servicemen and civilians were killed.

Georgia has decided to "unilaterally cease fire" in a sign of Tbilisi’s willingness to defuse tensions, Temur Yakobashvili, the Georgian state minister for reintegration, announced at a press conference in Tbilisi at 6:40pm. Yakobashvili said that he was not able to get in touch with the separatist authorities.

President Saakashvili said in a live televised address made at 7:10pm, that he had ordered the Georgian forces to cease fire in South Ossetia. He said there were casualties, both dead and many people wounded. Saakashvili said that he ordered to cease fire "on purpose" to again offer the South Ossetian secessionists to resume talks.

Despite Georgia’s decision not to return fire, the Georgian village of Avnevi again came under fire of the South Ossetian militiamen at about 8:30pm. It can be said that the village was totally destroyed as a result.

The South Ossetian separatist armed groupings fired at the Georgian-controlled village of Prisi at about 10:30 pm. The attack left several people wounded on the Georgian side.

The separatist authorities opened fire at all Georgian positions around the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali at about 23:30, including the villages of Tamarasheni and Kurta. The police stations in Kurta was destroyed as a result of heavy shelling.

According to witnesses from local population, at about 9.45 a military fighter plane, presumably Russian (it entered Georgia from South Ossetian side) dropped off about 3-5 bombs near village Shavshvebi, 300-500 meters from Georgian military radar.

6 August

Late on 6 August, separatists opened mortar fire at Georgian populated villages of Eredvi, Prisi, Avnevi, Dvani and Nuli. Georgian government forces fired back in order to defend the positions and civilian population. As a result of intensive cross-fire during the night, two servicemen of the Georgian battalion of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces were injured. Separatist regime also claimed several injured persons on their side. Despite the targeted attacks on peaceful population and villages, as well as on the Georgian police and peacekeeping forces, the central authorities decided not to respond through heavy exchange of fire, in order not to injure the local population.

Temur Yakobashvili, Georgian chief negotiator and state minister for reintegration, said in late night televised remarks on August 6 that it was the position of the Georgian government that only a direct dialogue with Tskinvali authorities would solve the deteriorating security situation. Mr. Yakobashvili also stressed that Ambassador-at-large Yuri Popov would attend the talks as a facilitator. South Ossetian chief negotiator, Boris Chochiev, refused to take part in negotiations.

During 4 and 5 August no serious incidents have been observed.

3 August

South Ossetian separatist government announced evacuation of more than 500 people, including about 400 children. However, Ermak Dzansolov, deputy prime minister of Russia’s North Ossetian Republic, told Interfax news agency that it was not an evacuation. Sending children to North Ossetia was part of a pre-arranged summer-camp programme, as he explained.

Russian media outlets started a massive propaganda campaign against Georgia.

South Ossetian media sources reported on the mobilization of volunteers across the North Caucasus.

2 August

Six civilians and one Georgian policeman were injured after the shelling of Georgian villages in the South Ossetian conflict zone overnight. The Georgian-controlled villages of Zemo Nikozi, Kvemo Nikozi, Nuli, Avnevi, Eredvi and Ergneti came under intense fire from the South Ossetian separatists with large calibre mortars. Georgian law enforcers shot back defensively for some time, but then received an order of ceasefire in order not to escalate the situation.

1 August

At about 8:00 AM, Tbilisi time, a pickup vehicle with six Georgian police officers was hit by two remote control explosive devices on the Eredvi-Kheiti by-pass road linking the Didi Liakhvi Gorge – a Georgian enclave north of the breakaway region’s capital Tskhinvali - with Georgia proper. As a result of the attack, five Georgian policemen were severely wounded. The central authorities decided not to retaliate in order not to escalate the situation.

Russian Federation continues to bomb Georgian territory

Despite the fact that the Georgian Authorities signed a peace plan developed by the international mediators and adopted a decision on unilateral ceasefire and withdrawal of Georgian armed troops from the conflict zone, which were as a consequence stationed in the vicinity of Tbilisi, the Russian Federation still continues to bomb the Georgian territory.

Today, on 12 August 2008, the cities of Gori, Khashuri, Agara and Kaspi and the villages of Tkviavi, Ruisi, Sakorintlo and Sveneti came under aerial attack. The available information indicates that the Russian military aircraft also carried out an attack on the Baku-Tbilisi-Supsa pipeline.

Of particular concern is the extreme brutality with which the Russian Federation carries out its aerial attacks on civilian and economic targets. While attacking Gori, Russian military aircraft bombed the city center setting on fire university, post office and hospital buildings. The attack killed peaceful citizens including a child, a Dutch journalist and a military doctor and left several people wounded. The Russian air defence troops even go so far as to bomb civilian transport means as well. In particular, Russian ‘peacekeepers’ destroyed a micro-bus in Agara causing casualties and injuring people.

Against the background of peace efforts undertaken by the Georgian Authorities, Russia’s barbaric acts of violence lay bare the genuine goals of the Russian Authorities – occupation of the entire territory of Georgia and change of the democratically elected government.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls on the international community to give a respective legal qualification to the culpable acts committed by Russia against humanity.

Tbilisi, 12 August 2008

Georgia Files Ethnic Cleansing Case Against Russian Federation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 12 • 18:15 CET

Georgia Files Ethnic Cleansing Case Against Russian Federation at International Criminal Court

The Hague, Netherlands The Government of Georgia has today filed a complaint at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, against the Russian Federation for alleged acts of ethnic cleansing, conducted on Georgian sovereign territory between 1993 and 2008.

The case has been filed on Georgia's behalf by its legal adviser, Payam Akhavan, Professor of International Law at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Mr Akhavan is a world renowned expert on the issue of war crimes and international law in relation to atrocities. He was the first Legal Adviser to the Prosecutor's Office at the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and played a key role in developing its foundational jurisprudence.

The Application is based on a UN Human Rights treaty and claims that beginning in the 1990s until the recent military invasion of Georgia, Russia has supported the violent ethnic cleansing of Georgians by separatist forces from the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions, through the supply of weapons, recruitment of mercenaries, and direct military intervention by Russia's own armed forces, resulting in large-scale atrocities against Georgian civilians.

Since the ceasefires of the 1990s, Russian peacekeepers have consistently denied the right of return of 300,000 internally displaced persons, and recent Russian moves to dismember Georgia's territory by recognizing the separatist authorities, and the recent full-scale Russian invasion of Georgia, are intended to make both the ethnic demography of the separatist territories and their independence permanent.

Georgia requests the Court to declare that Russia has acted contrary to international law, that it must refrain from any further support for the separatist authorities including withdrawal of all its forces from Georgia, and that Russia must pay compensation to Georgia for its unlawful acts.

Professor Akhavan said: "This historic case is an expression of Georgia's confidence that its cause is just under international law. Russian propaganda has consistently accused Georgia of aggression and genocide. It will now become apparent before the Court that without doubt, the people of Georgia have been the victims of Russia's support for separatism and ethnic cleansing. If Russia has any respect for international law, it will bring its differences to the Court rather than imposing its will by violence against a much smaller neighbor."

For further information, please call James Hunt on +32 486 978 947

Continued presence of massive Russian occupation force

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 12 • 17:50 Tbilisi, Georgia

URGENT: Georgia confirms continued presence of massive Russian occupation force, bombings, ethnic cleansing & economic warfare. Contrary to some media reports and to the statement by Russian President Medvedev, Russian occupation forces are fully operational in Georgia with at least 12,000 troops throughout the country, many of them outside of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This is in no way represents a "halt to military operations" or a "halt to war" as many media outlets are reporting.

Specifically, at this hour:

• Russian soldiers occupy the Georgian Black Sea Port of Poti, which they have destroyed and where they have killed nearly 100 civilians. The port is blockaded and there are tanks on the roads outside of Poti.

In recent hours:

• Russian forces have bombed Gori city center for the first time, where two journalists were reported killed today and a hospital was bombed.


• In western Georgia, Russian troops ordered members of the civil administration to abandon their posts


• In Senaki, Russian forces bombed and are believed to have mined a major Georgian army base. The base had been evacuated prior to the attack.


• Most of the ethnic Georgians who were in South Ossetia have been taken to Kurta detention camp by Russian troops or have been killed by separatist paramilitaries. The massacre is continuing.


• Local witnesses are reporting that Russian troops (or Russian allied militia) are verifying the ethnicity of residents and—if they are Georgian—they are summarily executing them with a bullet to their head. Reports of such massacres are coming from the villages of Nikosi, Kurta, and Armarishili.


• In Agara, a town outside of the conflict zones, an ambulance was bombed.

In recent hours, the Russian invasion forces also have begun a campaign of economic warfare. Among other attacks, they have:

• Bombed a German-owned cement factory in Kaspi


• Bombed and narrowly missed the BTC pipeline near Rustavi.

Russian jets bombing Georgian villages

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 12 - 15:00 Tbilisi, Georgia

URGENT: Russian jets currently bombing Georgian villages outside South Ossetia

Despite the Russian President's claims earlier this morning that military operations against Georgia have been suspended, at this moment, Russian fighter jets are bombarding two Georgian villages utside South Ossetia—specifically, these are the villages of Ruisi in the Kareli region and the village of Sakoringo in the Kaspi region. Also, at 2:00 pm in the village of Agara in the Khashuri region, also outside South Ossetia, Russian military forces bombed and destroyed an ambulance.

Timeline by 12th of August 07:00

12 August

03:25 Russian envoy to the UN Churkin announced in a press conference that Russia will not support the resolution. Georgian envoy Alasania announced that the suggested resolution is acceptable to Georgia.

02:15 Emergency meeting of the Security Council of the UN started. The resolution about cease-fire prepared by France was discussed.

02:05 Russian aviation bombarded Kaspi 30 Kms from Tbilisi out of conflict zone. 3 bombs were dropped near the Heidelberg Cement factory (one of two cement factories in the country). No damage was reported.

01:15 President of the United States George W. Bush made supportive statement to Georgia. "Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century," the president said in a televised statement from the White House, calling on Moscow to sign on to the outlines of a cease-fire as the Georgian government has done

11 August

20:30 Russian Army took Gori and cut main highway connecting Western and Eastern parts of the country.

20:10 The invading army of the Russian Federation has advanced outside the conflict zones of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Russian army units moved towards the city of Gori. The Georgian army is retreating to defend the capital. The Government is urgently seeking international intervention to prevent the fall of Georgia and the further loss of life.

19:30 Russian troopes advanced deep into Georgian territory from west and entered Senaki 210 Kms from Tbilisi, out of the conflict zone.

19:20 US deputy assistant secretary made supportive announcement to Georgia. He mentioned that, time would come when International Peace keeping force will enter Georgia and restore Georgia’s territorial Integrity.

19:00 The camp for IDPs was opened in Tbilisi.

18:20 Ossetian separatist forces entered village Beloti near Eredvi. They took hostage remaining civilian population and locked them in local church.

18:10 Russian Troops attacked and took village Shindisi of Gori district.

17:30 Russian Aviation bombed village Kere of Gori District.

Russian peace keepers with heavy equipment entered Zugdidi to disarm local police. By 17:00 they began to occupy administrative buildings. http://www.gpb.ge/moambe_news.php?lang=geo&tm_id=0&news_id=16206

14:30 Senaki base is bombed by Russian aviation.

13:30 President Saakashvili signs a ceasefire agreement, prepared by the foreign ministers of France, Finland, and Georgia. The foreign ministers of France and Finland are taking the agreement to Moscow in order to persuade President Medvedev to sign it.
http://www.gpb.ge/moambe_news.php?lang=eng&tm_id=0&news_id=16190

12:05 Russian aviation is bombing Georgian servicemen in Upper Abkhazia.

10:00 Village of Eredvi came under the fire of Russian artillery.

07:15 Senaki airport is bombed by Russian airplanes.

06:10 Gori tank battalion is bombed. A civilian apartment building nearby has been hit.

05:00 Shiraki airfield in Dedoplistskaro District on the east of the country is bombed by Russian jets.

04:37 Civilian radar station on Makhata mount in 5 kilometers from downtown Tbilisi is bombed by Russian planes.

03:05 Villages of Sharabidzeebi, Kapandichi, Makho near Batumi are bombed by Russian planes. Graveyard and villagers’ backyard have been hit. No casualties

00:30 Civilian radar station in the village of Shavshvebi west of Tbilisi is bombed by Russian planes.

00:00 Five wounded policemen transported to Zugdidi hospital from Upper Abkhazia.

10 August

20:00 Positional fighting near village of Qvabchara in Upper Abkhazia.

19:10 "Tbilaviamsheni" aviation factory was bombarded by Russian aviation again.

19:05 Russian aviation dropped bomb on Tbilisi International Airport.

18:00 The Black Sea town of Anaklia 280 km from Tbilisi, is bombed by Russian airplanes. No casualties reported

17:30 Georgian Ministry of Foreign affairs handed diplomatic note to the Charg d’affaires of Russian embassy Mr Smag. According to the order of the president Georgia, Georgian Government forces stopped fire in the conflict zone.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Karasin announced the terms of ceasefire. Georgia have to withdraw on the positions existing before the beginning of the conflict and take responsibility of non use of force.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation announced that journalists wanting to enter Russian-Georgian conflict zone have to have special accreditation from Ministry of Defense and second accreditation from Ministry of Foreign affairs of Russia.

16:10 Russian aviation bombarded only remaining bridge on the Highway linking eastern and western parts of the country. There was a fire on the bridge. Fire is extinguished. The traffic is restored.

16:05 Gori is being bombed by Russian aviation.

15:10 Russian troops and Abkhaz separatists launch ground attack on Upper Abkhazia. The region is being bombed by Russian aviation.

15:00 Russian airplanes bomb the village of Knolevi in the northern Kareli district.

12:00 20 to 25 thousand IDPs from the regions of Tskhinvali and Gori, as a result of Russian attacks. The number of IDPs is growing quickly.

09:00 Government of Georgia reported 45 soldiers and 47 civilians died.

08:45 Ten Russian jets attack Upper Abkhazia. One jet has been downed by Georgian Government troops.

07:40 Russian jets bomb village of Urta in Zugdidi district.

07:00 Georgian Government Forces withdraw from Tskhinvali. Russian General Khrulyov, commander of the invading 58th army was wounded after shelling Russian military convoy by Georgian artillery.

05:45 Russian jet entered Georgian airspace from Dagestan and dropped 3 Bombs on Tbilisi airplane factory.

6,000 Russian troops enter Georgia through Roki tunnel overnight; 90 tanks; 150 Armored Personnel Carriers; 250 artillery gunships.

4,000 Russian troops land at port of Ochamchire in Abkhazia, from Black Sea port of Sevastopol.

9 August

22:30 Russian air forces bombarded Chkhalta, administrative center of Upper Abkhazia. No Casualties reported.

19:45 Tskhinvali is under ultimate control of Georgian Government troops. Russian Navy prevented Moldovan Cargo Ship Lotus - 1 carrying wheat from entering Poti Port. Lotus - 1 was forced to go back.

16:35 The town of Oni in northern Georgia is bombarded by Russian aviation.

16:15 Two Russian battleships are heading towards Poti port. By this time they are near Gudauta.

16:05 Four Russian jets flew over Upper Abkazia.

15:45 Abkhaz separatist leader Sergey Bagapsh announced the launch of bombardment of Upper Abkhazia.

14:30 The Parliament approved ordinance of the Declaration on the State of War and full mobilization.

14:00 Russian air force attack Upper Abkhazia (Kodori gorge) in several places, including the airdrome in the village of Omarishara.

12:40 Kopitnari airdrome is bombed again.

10:22 Russian air force continues to bomb Gori, located 60 kilometers northwest from Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone.

10:20 One more Russian military airplane is shot down in Gori, located 60 kilometers northwest from Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone. The pilot has been captured.

10:00 Russian air force bomb Kopitnari airdrome in several kilometers from Kutaisi. The entire 58th Russian Army, located in the North Caucasus, enters the South Ossetia region. They are engaged in battle with the Georgian army in Tskhinvali, which is in the conflict zone and 92 kilometers northwest from Tbilisi.

01:20 Gatchiani in the Gardabani districts was bombarded, which is 20 kilometers southeast of Tbilisi and outside the conflict zone and is also close to the BTC pipeline, but the pipeline is not damaged.

01:00 Poti was bombarded a second time, which is located on the Black Sea coast, 260 kilometers west from Tbilisi, is outside the conflict zone and is a pure civilian target.

00:34 Person calling himself "Armen" calls the 022 Patrol Police number and says a bomb is planted in President’s Residence. He also says the new President Administration and Ministry of Internal Affair buildings will soon be bombarded.

00:20 Vaziani airfield is bombed again, which is 2-3 kilometers from Tbilisi International Airport and is located outside the conflict zone.

00:17 Lightening bombs are dropped on Senaki military base, which is 213 kilometers west of Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone. 1 serviceman and 5 reservists were reported killed. The railway station in Senaki is also bombed and eight are killed.

00:12 Poti port, which is located on the Black Sea coast, 260 kilometers west from Tbilisi, is outside the conflict zone and is a pure civilian target, is bombed heavily.

8 August

22:40 According to Ministry of Defense, Russian planes violated Georgian airspace a total of 22 times.

22:15 The type and place of Russian planes taken down during the day not located yet.

21:45 Policemen and reservists who were surrounded in the Znauri school bulding, five kilometers west of Tskinvali, are rescued by government forces.

21:11 The separatist authorities claim to have altogether 1400 people dead and wounded. At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defense announces that there are 10 dead among Russian "peacekeepers".

20:30 After severe clashes in Tskinvali, Georgian forces start to withdraw from the center of the town, holding their positions at its southern outskirts. Russian tanks enter the eastern part of Tskinvali.

19:20 2 Russian planes pass over Ambrolauri, which is 170 kilometers northwest of Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone.

19:18 5 Russian airplanes were shot down during the day. Last one is shot down at approximately 19:00 near Tskhinvali.

18:45 Georgian Gori artillery brigade is bombarded by 5 Russian airplanes.

18:44 A motorcade of Russian tanks, armored vehicles and trucks loaded with different kinds of weapons reach Tskinvali by the Dzara by-pass road, 2 kilometers west of Tskinvali. The Russians opens intensive fire towards Georgian forces located in Tskinvali and on the neighboring heights. A second motorcade, which also came from Russia via the Roki tunnel, is stopped near the Georgian government controlled area of Dmenisi, 7 kilometers north of Tskinvali, and Russians open heavy fire toward Georgian forces.

18:32 Frone gorge, northeat of Tskinvali, is under intensive artillery fire by Russian forces. Villages Avnevi and Phrisi, in the Tskinvali region, are bombarded by Russian military aircraft.

17:35 Marneuli military airbase, 20 kilometers south of Tbilisi and outside the conflict zone, is bombed for the third time resulting in 1 death and 4 injured. As a result of three bombings, three grounded AN-2 type planes and military vehicles stationed there are destroyed.

17:00 Marneuli military airbase is bombed for the second time causing casualties.

16.30 Russian aviation bombs Marneuli and Bolnisi military airbases, 20 kilometers and 35 kilometers south of Tbilisi respectively. Two aircrafts were destroyed on ground. Also several buildings were destroyed and there are casualties.

16:03 Two Russian planes enter Georgian airspace from the North. One more flies over Djava. Two more fly across the border near Chechnya.

16:00 about 40 officers of Criminal Police and Reservists are trapped in Znauri school.

15:30 Ossetian separatists destroyed 3 Georgian tanks at Dzari by-pass road.

15:05 Russian military plane enters Georgia from the direction of Tedzami, just south of Gori, and drop two bombs on the Vaziani military airport and turned back.

14.30 Almost 100% of Tskhinvali is controlled by Georgian forces. Just several small groupings are still resisting.

14.15 Georgian government announces a ceasefire from 15.00 till 18.00 to let civilian population leave Tskhinvali. Separatists are also offered amnesty and humanitarian aid if they surrender.

13:00 Part of Thskinvali is controlled by Georgian army and fighting continues in the center. The civilian population does not resist. They are ordered to stay inside their houses.

12.05 One Su-24 enters Georgian air space from Russia and remained over Tskhinvali till 12.15.

12.00 Eight Georgians (6 military and 2 civilians) have died and 87 are injured. 1 military truck with ammunition was destroyed.

11:45 Emergency Service of Civil Aviation report receiving a signal from a crashed flying object (presumably Russian fighter plane) near Iuri range, 17 km south from Gori.

11.45: Four Su-24 Russian jet enter Georgia from the direction of Stepantsminda (Kazbeg), northeast of the Roki tunnel and outside of the conflict zone. Two of them pass Tbilisi and make two circles around Marneuli. The other two make a circle above Gudauri.

10:57: Two of the six Russian aircraft drop three bombs in Gori. One of these fell near the stadium, the second near Gorijvari slope and third near an artillery brigade.

10.50: Six Su-24 fighter planes enter from the Roki pass.

10.30 Russian Su-24 bombs the village of Variani in the Kareli district, 75 kilometers west of Tbilisi and outside the conflict zone. Seven civilians were injured as a result.

9.45: A Russian military fighter plane drops about 3-5 bombs near the village of Shavshvebi, on the highway between Poti and Tbilisi and is 300-500 meters from Georgian military radar.

9:00 Georgian Forces control the villages of Gromi, Artsevi, Tsinagara, Znauri, Sarabuki, Khetagurovo, Atotsi, Kvemo Okuna, Dmenisi, Muguti and Didmukha.

8:00: First group of Russian troops together with Gufta Bridge are destroyed by a Georgian aerial bombardment. Later two more groups of Russian troops enter South Ossetia through the Roki tunnel, which connects Russia and Georgia, but could not cross the Gufta Bridge which was destroyed and moved by the Geri-Dmenisi road.

5:30: First Russian troops enter through Roki tunnel South Ossetia, passed Java, crossed Gufta bridge and moved by Dzara road towards Tskhinvali.

4:28: Georgian armed forces are in control of six villages in the Tskhinvali region: Muguti, Dmenisi, Didmukha, Okona, Akut and Kohati. It is also reported that Georgian forces entered the village of Khetagurovo.

2:45: Reports are received of Georgian troops occupying the villages of Didmukha, Muguti and Dmenisi.

7 August

During the night and early morning intensive fire came from the Ossetian villages of Khetagurovo, Dmenisi, Sarabuki, and Ubiat. Separatist authorities continued shelling Georgian law enforcers and Peacekeeping units with mortars and artillery. The central authorities responded with limited fire in order to defend the positions.

In the morning interview with Russian news agencies, South Ossetian de facto president Eduard Kokoity declared that if the Georgian government did not withdraw its military forces from the region, he would start "to clean them out."

President Saakashvili speaking with journalists in the military hospital in Gori, where he visited the two injured Georgian servicemen, said that despite attacks on the Georgian villages, Tbilisi was showing "maximum restraint." Saakashvili also called on Russia to "to recall its officials" from South Ossetia, who consider themselves as the so-called South Ossetian government.

Temur Yakobashvili, visited the conflict zone in the morning of August 7 to meet with representatives of the separatist government. The State Minister met with Marat Kulakhmetov, commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces, in Tskhinvali. But, the separatists refused to negotiate with him.

The chairman of the separatist republic’s Security Council, Anatoly Barankevich threatened that armed groupings of Cossacks from North Ossetia were headed towards South Ossetia to fight against Georgian forces.

The separatists resumed shelling of Georgian villages Nuli and Avnevi by 16:00. Three Georgian servicemen were injured after the South Ossetian separatist forces blew up an infantry combat vehicle belonging to the Georgian peacekeeping battalion in Avnevi. Georgian police responded by firing towards the separatist armed grouping in village Khetagurovo, where two separatist militiamen were killed and two more wounded. Later, the check-point of Georgian peacekeepers was bombed in Avnevi and several Georgian servicemen and civilians were killed.

Georgia has decided to "unilaterally cease fire" in a sign of Tbilisi’s willingness to defuse tensions, Temur Yakobashvili, the Georgian state minister for reintegration, announced at a press conference in Tbilisi at 6:40pm. Yakobashvili said that he was not able to get in touch with the separatist authorities.

President Saakashvili said in a live televised address made at 7:10pm, that he had ordered the Georgian forces to cease fire in South Ossetia. He said there were casualties, both dead and many people wounded. Saakashvili said that he ordered to cease fire "on purpose" to again offer the South Ossetian secessionists to resume talks.

Despite Georgia’s decision not to return fire, the Georgian village of Avnevi again came under fire of the South Ossetian militiamen at about 8:30pm. It can be said that the village was totally destroyed as a result.

The South Ossetian separatist armed groupings fired at the Georgian-controlled village of Prisi at about 10:30 pm. The attack left several people wounded on the Georgian side.

The separatist authorities opened fire at all Georgian positions around the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali at about 23:30, including the villages of Tamarasheni and Kurta. The police stations in Kurta was destroyed as a result of heavy shelling.

According to witnesses from local population, at about 9.45 a military fighter plane, presumably Russian (it entered Georgia from South Ossetian side) dropped off about 3-5 bombs near village Shavshvebi, 300-500 meters from Georgian military radar.

6 August

Late on 6 August, separatists opened mortar fire at Georgian populated villages of Eredvi, Prisi, Avnevi, Dvani and Nuli. Georgian government forces fired back in order to defend the positions and civilian population. As a result of intensive cross-fire during the night, two servicemen of the Georgian battalion of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces were injured. Separatist regime also claimed several injured persons on their side. Despite the targeted attacks on peaceful population and villages, as well as on the Georgian police and peacekeeping forces, the central authorities decided not to respond through heavy exchange of fire, in order not to injure the local population.

Temur Yakobashvili, Georgian chief negotiator and state minister for reintegration, said in late night televised remarks on August 6 that it was the position of the Georgian government that only a direct dialogue with Tskinvali authorities would solve the deteriorating security situation. Mr. Yakobashvili also stressed that Ambassador-at-large Yuri Popov would attend the talks as a facilitator. South Ossetian chief negotiator, Boris Chochiev, refused to take part in negotiations.

During 4 and 5 August no serious incidents have been observed.

3 August

South Ossetian separatist government announced evacuation of more than 500 people, including about 400 children. However, Ermak Dzansolov, deputy prime minister of Russia’s North Ossetian Republic, told Interfax news agency that it was not an evacuation. Sending children to North Ossetia was part of a pre-arranged summer-camp programme, as he explained.

Russian media outlets started a massive propaganda campaign against Georgia.

South Ossetian media sources reported on the mobilization of volunteers across the North Caucasus.

2 August

Six civilians and one Georgian policeman were injured after the shelling of Georgian villages in the South Ossetian conflict zone overnight. The Georgian-controlled villages of Zemo Nikozi, Kvemo Nikozi, Nuli, Avnevi, Eredvi and Ergneti came under intense fire from the South Ossetian separatists with large calibre mortars. Georgian law enforcers shot back defensively for some time, but then received an order of ceasefire in order not to escalate the situation.

1 August

At about 8:00 AM, Tbilisi time, a pickup vehicle with six Georgian police officers was hit by two remote control explosive devices on the Eredvi-Kheiti by-pass road linking the Didi Liakhvi Gorge – a Georgian enclave north of the breakaway region’s capital Tskhinvali - with Georgia proper. As a result of the attack, five Georgian policemen were severely wounded. The central authorities decided not to retaliate in order not to escalate the situation.

Russian Ground Forces Invade Georgia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 11 - 20:20 Tbilisi, Georgia

** UPDATE **
URGENT: Russian Ground Forces Invade Georgia, Georgian Army Retreats to Defend Capital; Government Appeals for Urgent International Intervention

At this hour, the invading army of the Russian Federation has entered Georgian territory outside the conflict zones of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Georgian army is retreating to defend the capital. The Government is urgently seeking international intervention to prevent the fall of Georgia and the further loss of life.

"We no longer know the limits of the invading Russian army—Russia seems intent on overthrowing the democratically elected government of Georgia and occupying the country," said Alexander Lomaia, the Secretary of the National Security Council. "As a consequence, the National Security Council has just decided to bring the Georgian army to Tbilisi in order to defend the capital and prevent the fall of Georgia."

European political leaders, including Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, are in Tbilisi meeting now with the President of Georgia to seek a way to stop the Russian onslaught.

The Government of Georgia announced a unilateral cease fire on Sunday morning, withdrew its forces from South Ossetia, and sued for peace. Despite the ceasefire and withdrawal—and in defiance of outraged international criticism of its invasion of Georgia—Russia is continuing its fierce offensive that has left hundreds of civilians dead and thousands injured.

Georgia Update on South Ossetia Escalation from 05.08

The Government of Georgia sought to defuse tensions in the South Ossetia region and revive peace efforts after a weekend of violence left six separatist rebels dead and at least 13 others injured. Tbilisi called for direct talks with the separatists, while the head of the region’s Provisional Administration, Dmitry Sanakoev, urged the international community to prevent further militarization of the conflict.

The OSCE’s current chair-in-office, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, condemned the violence, as Estonian foreign minister Urmas Paet proposed sending EU peacekeepers to the region. “Peacekeeping there would be an appropriate task for the EU,” Paet said. “States not directly linked to the conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia should be involved in the peacekeeping mission.” Russia, which has become a party to both conflicts, currently controls peacekeeping forces in both Georgian regions.

Meanwhile, Georgian Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili expressed concern that the fighting in the South Ossetia region fits a pattern of provocations guided by Russia. Last March, Moscow sharply escalated its confrontation with Georgia over the Abkhazia region, prompting intensified diplomacy by the international community. In July, the German Foreign Ministry proposed a peace plan that, while welcomed by the Government of Georgia, has been rejected by Moscow and the separatists.

“It cannot be a coincidence that violence has broken out in the South Ossetia region just as there appears to be progress in reviving the peace process,” Tkeshelashvili said. “Russia apparently sees the conflicts as a way to exert control over Georgia and to thwart our NATO aspiration—it does not want the conflicts to end.” She added that barring forceful intervention by the international community, Russia either would annex these regions of Georgia or continue to destabilize them indefinitely.

Separatist Leaders Threaten Strikes on Georgian Cities

The latest fighting began Friday night when separatist rebels fired on Government posts and nearby villages with machine guns and mortars. The episode marked a low point in a month of escalating violence in the South Ossetia region; the ministry of interior yesterday released a list of over a dozen violent attacks by the separatists since early July.

Among those incidents was a July 3 attempt on the life of Sanakoev, the Provisional Administration head, who escaped unscathed. Sanakoev, a former separatist defense minister, has emerged as a pivotal figure in efforts to resolve the conflict. He broke with the separatists to advocate peaceful reunification with Georgia, winning 80 percent of the vote in the November 2006 election held in the region’s centrally controlled territories. Yesterday, Sanakoev urged the international community to boost its monitoring capacity in the South Ossetia region, after separatist rebels there acknowledged they had violated international agreements by fortifying their border posts.

“The separatist rebels, backed by the Russian Federation, are creating the conditions for further violence in the region,” Sanakoev said. “They are contributing to a precipitous deterioration in economic and social conditions, thus robbing ethnic Ossetians as well as all other inhabitants of the region of their future.”

Edouard Kokoity, who heads of the separatist leadership, countered by warning that his armed rebels would attack the ministry of the interior’s units. “We reserve the right to strike Georgian cities, we have the capability to reach them,” he said.

Echoing Kokoity’s warning, a leading Russian general asserted that “Russian paratroopers will be deployed in the South Ossetia region, to help the Russian peacekeepers there, if the situation requires them do to so.” Such a move would directly violate peacekeeping agreements and norms. Georgia’s Foreign Ministry yesterday condemned the general’s statement as a “threat of aggression.”

The OSCE currently monitors the South Ossetia region, but only sporadically and with limited capacity.

On July 9, four Russian fighter jets spent 40 minutes over the city of Tskhinvali, violating Georgian airspace in a move widely condemned internationally. The United States yesterday, condemning the latest violence, called for greater vigilance by the international community.

“These incidents underscore the need for an immediate increase in the number of OSCE monitors in South Ossetia,” said State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos. He said the US also advocates joint Georgian-Russian monitoring of the Roki Tunnel, the primary channel through which illicit arms and ammunition flow to the region’s armed groups.

Tbilisi Makes New Push for Peace in Both Conflict Zones

Following the weekend hostilities, the Government made a new push for peace in both South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions.

“We need direct talks with the separatists to help put an end to this escalation,” said Reintegration Minister Temur Yakobashvili. The Government last spring withdrew from the now-defunct JCC negotiation format, which had failed to produce progress for over a decade. Georgia has proposed that talks should take place either directly between the separatist leaders and the central Government, or in a new “2+2+2 format” that would include the separatist rebels and the Provisional Administration of South Ossetia, together with Tbilisi and Moscow; the EU and the OSCE would represent the international community.

Meanwhile, the Government also sought to maintain momentum in resolving the conflict in the Abkhazia region, after the separatist leaders there rejected a peace plan proposed by the German Foreign Ministry.

Last month, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier traveled to the region to promote the peace initiative. Further talks on the plan were scheduled for mid-August in Berlin, with the Georgian government, the Russian Federation, and the separatist rebels meeting with the participation of the US, Germany, France, and Great Britain. On Monday, citing the clashes in the South Ossetia region, the separatists in Sukhumi announced they would not take part in the Berlin talks. The separatists on Monday also declared a state of emergency.

National Security Council Secretary Alexander Lomaia announced yesterday that by mid- September the Government of Georgia will unveil a comprehensive peace proposal for the Abkhazia region, elaborating on the plan first announced by President Saakashvili last March. The plan—also known as the “3-D” plan (de-escalation, demilitarization, development)— envisages demilitarization; unlimited autonomy for the region; the introduction of a vicepresidential post to be held by an ethnic Abkhaz representative who will wield veto power over policies affecting the region; broad regional representation in the central government; and a major economic rehabilitation program.

The Georgian plan would be guaranteed by the international community.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION President Saakashvili’s proposed peace plan for Abkhazia http://www.president.gov.ge/PDF/GU_E_2008-04-16_121577174551044.pdf

Timeline of violence in South Ossetia since July (Ministry of the Interior)

Recent incidents in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone 3 July – 3 August

1. On July 3, 2008 at approximately 10:00, an escort car of the head of the South Ossetian provisional administration Dimitri Sanakoev exploded on a landmine planted by the Ossetian Separatists. This took place on the Eredvi-Kheiti bypass road, in the Tsveriakho mountain area of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone. As a result of the attack, three representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were seriously wounded. Dimitri Sanakoev himself did not receive any body injuries. It should be noted that during this incident, an excursion bus carrying children was driving along this road.
2. On July 3, at approximately 23:30, separatist military units opened fire at Georgian villages with automatic rifles and grenade launchers. The villages hit by these attacks were Nikozi, Ergneti, Eredvi, Frisi, Vanati, Tamarasheni and Avnesi. At 23:40, the Georgian side opened fire in response to the aggression. On July 4 at 6:00, the Ossetian side tried to occupy the Georgian post located on the Eredvi-Kheiti road. As a result of the firing, one person died and three were wounded on the separatists’ side.
3. On July 4, in Tskhinvali, separatist law enforcement officers threw a hand grenade into Dimitri Sanakoev’s sister’s house in an attempt to intimidate the family, and also fired on his parents’ house with a grenade launcher. The houses were damaged as a result of these explosions.
4. On 7 July, at 01:30 in the village of Tseroni (Kareli district), four representatives of the Georgian Ministry of Defense – Col. Zviad Berikashvili, Corp. Nikoloz Megrelashvili, Sergeant Givi Alimbarashvili and Sergeant Ramaz Kulichishvili – were kidnapped by the Ossetian separatists. They were released after negotiations.
5. On July 7, on the southern outskirts of Tskhinvali, 14 years old youngster Andrey Petrachenko was taking photos of the Georgian police post. The youngster was detained and released after questioning on July 8.
6. On July 8, approximately at 20:00, Georgian airspace was violated by four “SU-24” Russian military aircraft. They circled around the Tskhinvali region for about 40 minutes, and then flew northwards. This fact was confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
7. On 14 July a landmine exploded in the woods around the village of Kemerti, in the Didi Liakhvi Gorge region. The woodcutters present at the site of the explosion survived without injuries.
8. On 20 July, a resident of Nikozi village, Teimuraz Goginashvili, was detained by the separatist special forces. He was released on 24 July.
9. On July 20, Georgian law enforcement personnel arrested four persons for the illegal carrying of fire arms and the use of drugs: Soslan Siukaev, Zaur Xubaev, Guram Sanakoev and Alixan Xubaev. Zaur Xubaev and Guram Sanakoev were released, as they were not found guilty, but Alixan Xubaev and Soslan Siukaev were only released after posting bail.
10. On July 22, Ossetian separatists in the village of Dmenisi, the Small Liakhvi gorge region, arrested Levan Jujniashvili, an employee at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. He was released on July 24.
11. On July 25, a “Niva” car exploded close to a Russian peacekeeping post in Southern Tskhinvali. Valeri Jioev (26) died as a result of the explosion.
12. On July 26, in the village of Veliti (Znauri district), staff members of the separatist border guard savagely beat local man Murad Jioev and he was taken to hospital.
13. On 28 July, at approximately 16:00, members of a separatist military unit opened fire on joint peacekeeping forces and an OSCE observer group moving towards the village of Chorbauli (Znauri district) and thus interrupted their monitoring.
14. On 29 July, at 4:00, separatists opened fire on Georgian villages in the Didi Liakhvi gorge. The firing lasted approximately 40 minutes.
15. On 29 July, at 10:00, separatists opened fire on a group of observers working with the joint peacekeeping forces on their way to the village of Andisi.
16. On 29 July, at approximately 22:00, separatists opened fire on Georgian peacekeeping forces located in the region of the Sarabuki heights and the village of Eredri. One member of a separatist military unit was wounded in the firefight that ensued.
17. On 1 August, at 08:15, on the Eredvi-Khreiti bypass, a radio-controlled mine blew up a pickup van belonging to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. Six Georgian policemen were injured, one of them severely.
18. In the evening of 1 August, Ossetian separatists opened fire in the direction of the Georgian villages of Kvemo, Zemo Nikozi, Avnevi, Ergneti and Eredvi using machine guns, and grenade launchers. The firing was directed at Georgian police and military checkpoints. Four individuals were wounded in Zemo and Kvemo Nikozi by the grenade explosions, during which several residential buildings and vehicles were also damaged. In the village of Nuli, one person was wounded and a few houses were damaged. In the village of Ergneti, one person was wounded, who was taken to the local hospital in Gori, and two houses were damaged. Six militants were killed and twelve wounded after the Georgian police opened fire in response.
19. In the period of 2, 3 and 4 August, the situation remained calm in the conflict zone. No incidents were reported.

Images

Also see Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty slideshow with audio snippets

Timeline by 11th of August 14:30

Provided data is operational and may be subject to verification.

August 9 - 11, 2008 (reverse chronological order)

August 11th

14:30 Senaki base is bombed by Russian aviation.

13:30 President Saakashvili signs a ceasefire agreement, prepared by the foreign ministers of France, Finland, and Georgia. The foreign ministers of France and Finland are taking the agreement to Moscow in order to persuade President Medvedev to sign it.
http://www.gpb.ge/moambe_news.php?lang=eng&tm_id=0&news_id=16190

12:05 Russian aviation is bombing Georgian servicemen in Upper Abkhazia.

10:00 Village of Eredvi came under the fire of Russian artillery.

07:15 Senaki airport is bombed by Russian airplanes.

06:10 Gori tank battalion is bombed. A civilian apartment building nearby has been hit.

05:00 Shiraki airfield in Dedoplistskaro District on the east of the country is bombed by Russian jets.

04:37 Civilian radar station in the village of Leninisi in 5 kilometers from downtown Tbilisi.

03:05 Villages of Sharabidzeebi, Kapandichi, Makho near Batumi are bombed by Russian planes. Graveyard and villagers’ backyard have been hit. No casualties reported.

00:30 Civilian radar station in the village of Shavshvebi west of Gori is bombed by Russian planes.

00:00 Five wounded policemen transported to Zugdidi hospital from Upper Abkhazia.

August 10th

20:00 Positional fighting near village of Qvabchara in Upper Abkhazia.

19:10 "Tbilaviamsheni" aviation factory was bombarded by Russian aviation again.

19:05 Russian aviation dropped bomb on Tbilisi Civil Airport.

17:30 Georgian Ministry of Foreign affairs handed diplomatic note to the Charg d'affirs of Russian embassy Mr Smag. According to the order of the president Georgia, Georgian Government forces stopped fire in the conflict zone.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Karasin announced the terms of ceasefire. Georgia have to withdraw on the positions existing before the beginning of the conflict and take responsibility of non use of force.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation announced that journalists wanting to enter Russian-Georgian conflict zone have to have special accreditation from Ministry of Defense and second accreditation from Ministry of Foreign affairs of Russia.

16:10 Russian aviation bombarded only remaining bridge on the Highway linking eastern and western parts of the country. There was a fire on the bridge. Fire is extinguished. The traffic is restored.

16:05 Gori is being bombed by Russian aviation.

15:10 Russian troops and Abkhaz separatists launch ground attack on Upper Abkhazia. The region is being bombed by Russian aviation.

15:00 Russian airplanes bomb the village of Knolevi in the northern Kareli district.

By noon of 10 August there are 20 to 25 thousand IDPs from the regions of Tskhinvali and Gori, as a result of Russian attacks. The number of IDPs is growing quickly.

11:15 The village of Shavshvebi between Gori and Kareli have been bombed by Russian aviation.

08:45 Ten Russian jets attack Upper Abkhazia. One jet has been downed by Georgian Government troops.

07:40 Russian jets bomb village of Urta in Zugdidi district.

05:45 Russian jet entered Georgian airspace from Dagestan and dropped 3 Bombs on Tbilisi airplane factory.

6,000 Russian troops enter Georgia through Roki tunnel overnight; 90 tanks; 150 Armored Personnel Carriers; 250 artillery gunships.

4,000 Russian troops land at port of Ochamchire in Abkhazia, from Black Sea port of Sevastopol

August 9th

22:30 Russian air forces bombarded Chkhalta, administrative center of Upper Abkhazia. No Casualties reported.

By 19:45 Tskhinvali is under ultimate control of Georgian Government troops.

Russian Navy prevented Moldovan Cargo Ship Lotus - 1 carrying wheat from entering Poti Port. Lotus - 1 was forced to go back.

16:35 Oni was bombarded by Russian aviation.

16:15 Two Russian battleships are heading towards Poti port. By this time they are near Gudauta.

16:05 Four Russian jets flew over Upper Abkazia.

15:45 Abkhaz separatist leader Sergey Bagapsh announced the la