First a little background information…
Essentially Georgia and Russia are fighting over two “kind-of” independent countries, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. South Ossetia is really the main area in the focus of this conflict. Bear in mind that there has been conflict between South Ossetia and Abkhazia in the past. South Ossetia has declared its independence from Georgia in the 90’s. Abkhazia forcibly removed all Georgians from their land (raping, massacring, torturing, and murdering along the way.) In summary, all of these areas are in a bit of disarray, and there is a lot of bad blood.
In trying to break down the Russia vs. Georgia undercard (apparently weight -class is not an issue…as Russia is the CLEAR heavyweight.) My analysis settles on 2 or 3 reasons why we are seeing the issue (3 reasons if you count the first one as 2.)
1. Rocky Relationship/Injured Pride
Basically Georgia was part of Russia then it wasn’t then it was part of the Soviet Union, then it wasn’t. They have a somewhat rocky history and Russia feels a bit slighted that they lost Georgia and some other republics. Georgia has also elected a pro-western President (Mikhail Saakashvili.) On top of this…Russia is also upset that Georgia is trying to become a member of NATO.
It would appear that Russia is somewhat upset that they no longer have control of Georgia, and would very much like to once again be able to tell them what to do. Vladimir Putin (former president, current prime minister) seems to be a little pissed off.
2. It always boils down to money…
South Ossetia and Abkhazia are relatively valuable pieces of real estate. South Ossetia for its oil pipelines that run through it. Abkhazia for it’s location as a port right on the Black Sea, and it’s reasonably strong tourism.
Where it stands now…
With both sides basically claiming the other started it, and the other is in the wrong and they are only helping, it is difficult to know whom to believe. It is in some ways like an argument between 6 year olds. The US came to the defense of Georgia, probably because when no one in the world wanted to back us in Iraq, Georgia was one of the only places to back us and send troops (2,000.) With so much bias in media reporting it is really difficult to know who is in the wrong (perhaps all of them????).
There was a cease-fire issued on August 22, 2008 and the action has cooled off since then. I do believe however, that this is not the last we will hear of this.
Flickr Credits: openDemocracy, onewmphoto
