GEORGIA – RUSSIA CONFLICT

I. BACKGROUND
On August 7, 2008, the tension between Georgia, Russia, South Ossetia grew to its highest peak when Georgia allegedly attacked a break-away region in South Ossetia. Russia allegedly fought back because it retaliated as Russian peacemakers within the region were killed. The attack was massive – involving land, air and sea. The war lasted for about five days.
As a result, effect of the Georgia-Russia war resulted in an estimated 30,000 refugees from South Ossetia fleeing into Russia. The territory has around 70,000 overall population. Meanwhile out 68,000 ethnic Georgians had fled their homes due to the conflict.
On 12 August 2008 Georgia instituted proceedings in the International Court of Justice against Russia for violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The case (Georgia v. Russian Federation) was accepted by the court on 15 August. The first public hearings are planned on 8 September 2008.
A preliminary ceasefire was signed by Georgia and Russia on 15 August 2008. The Russian military has announced a ten-day withdrawal from advance positions, while Georgian authorities have expressed discontent with the rate and extent of the pull-back, and with the continuing Russian presence in the port of Poti. The six-point peace plan was established with the mediation of French President, Nicolas Sarkozy to get the two dignitaries Russian President Medvedev and Georgian President Saakashvili. The two parties agreed on the following points : no recourse to the use of force, definitive cessation of hostilities, free access to humanitarian aid, Russian military forces must withdraw to the lines prior to the start of hostilities while awaiting an international mechanism, Russian peacekeeping force will implement additional security measures and finally, the opening of international discussions on the modalities of lasting security in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
On August 26, the Russian President formally recognised the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Georgia denounced this move as an annexation of its territory.

II. ANALYSIS OF THE CONFLICT

The Georgia-Russia war came to be because of years of tension (1992 to mid-2004) between the two countries as to sovereignty over South Ossetia. South Ossetia, which has a Georgian ethnic minority of around one fifth (14,000) of the total population (70,000), broke away from Georgia in the 1991–1992 war. Russia, on the other hand, was accused of issuing passports to the residents of this territory, first in order to lay claim on its people, with the intention of laying claim to its land. The attack of Georgia in Tskhinvali, the capital city of South Ossetia was according to Russia a violation of the 1992 ceasefire agreement and Russia had to retaliate on what it claims as “acts of genocide”. Georgia upholds that South Ossetia is part of their republic and that the issues within is an internal conflict that no other state shall interfere in.

But what do the Ossetians really want? For 100 years now, South Ossetia wants independence and want to be recognized as a sovereignty within USSR. In fact, to manifest this further, Ossetians boycotted Georgian parliamentary elections and held their own contest in 1990. The Georgian government then, declared this election illegitimate and abolished South Ossetia's autonomous status altogether. Violent conflict broke out towards the end of 1991. Many South Ossetian villages were attacked and burned down as well along with Georgian houses and schools. As a result of the violence, approximately 1,000 people died and about 100,000 ethnic Ossetians fled the territory and moved mostly to North Ossetia, a republic within the Russian Federation.


III. REACTIONS BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Various and conflicting reactions were drawn from other states on the existing conflict. Some say that the Russians’ justification on the attack of Georgia was unacceptable It may be remembered that Russia’s attack was based on its need to “Russian” citizens and the peacekeepers in the area of conflict. Other states fear that Russia will not hesitate to attack other states as well to protect their citizens. The action of Russia was considered as aggression as South Ossetia is not a considered a state but part of Georgian jurisdiction. These states call for the recognition and due respect of the territorial integrity of Georgia. In fact, the Russian attack was seen as a crime against international law.

Other states condemn Georgia’s attack on South Ossetia as it undermined the peace in that region. Georgia is perceived to be an allay of the United States and thus was accused that the actions it brought upon South Ossetia were done upon advise of the US. Other states also criticized Georgian leadership for taking non peaceful measures against the separatist region. Concern was expressed on the damage and havoc caused by the war most especially to the innocent civilians of the place.

IV. CONCLUSION

The Georgia-Russia conflict, to my mind, goes deeper than territorial issues. First, the conflict is an offshoot of cultural issues. The composition and ancestral lineage of the population of South Ossetia clearly shows a different kind of people from the dominant race within Georgia. Thus, the cry for sovereignty, for identity for its own people. This is no different from the Muslim issue here in the Philippines. The territory wants to be recognized as a state so it can manifest its culture when dealing with internal as well as external affairs. The achievement of years of almost peaceful existence under a ceasefire agreement was broken because of another irritant, US alliance. It seems that although the USSR is now a broken strongman, the internal conflict with US has never really stopped. Russia will continue to run counter against the principles that US runs by. It will, if given the chance, continue to retaliate any seeming influence such country will have most especially with its neighboring countries. This is a sad reality but the great powers will continue to indirectly influence the affairs of the smaller states as they continue to depend on them for economic benefits, surety for scarce resources and even protection. Is there truly equality and independence of states?