It was none other than Georgia that committed aggression and provoked a war in the Caucasus in August 2008. Numerous politicians have privately admitted the fact, but have abstained from calling a spade a spade publicly. This came in a statement by the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in an answer to a question by the Voice of Russia’s correspondent. In August 2008 Russia was compelled to make moves to enforce peace on Tbilisi. Dmitry Medvedev had this to say:
“Speaking of the events of two years ago, I would like to point out that I see all the decisions made then as absolutely justified and as ones that have proved their efficiency. Russia came to the rescue of the peoples of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in a critical situation, when the two nations’ identity and their very right to existence came under threat. Russia protected the Abkhazians and South Ossetians. Those voicing concern about Russia’s moves could since make sure that the moves in question had been prompted only by the desire to save the lives of the people that happened to be the target of aggression.”
The events in the Trans-Caucasus in 2008 proved once again that war cannot be seen as a way to settle international problems. The use of force by the Saakashvili regime against the neighbouring republics buried for good the possibility for the Georgians, Abkhazians and South Ossetians to live in a common state. De facto Abkhazia and South Ossetia separated from the rest of Georgia in the early 1990s and have since repeatedly asked Russia and other countries to recognize the fait accompli de jure. This could not but happen right after Tbilisi’s military conflict with Tskhinval in August 2008, a conflict that put it in bold relief that Saakashvili himself had split Georgia. Abkhazia and South Ossetia have since been recognized by several nations, and the process will certainly go on.
But has the Georgian regime drawn proper conclusions from the 2008 war? No, it has not. The Saakashvili regime is harbouring plans to revenge. At the Geneva Consultations on the Trans-Caucasus, Georgia is refusing to sign a memorandum on the non-use of force and the non-resumption of military action. The Georgian military is speedily building muscle. Georgian military units are trained for combat action in some hotspots, like Afghanistan. To build up its military strength Georgia is continually buying new weapon systems. NATO experts are again training Georgian Army units, as they did two years ago prior to the invasion of Tskhinval. A military build-up is in full swing on South Ossetia’s border.
Two years ago Russia warned its western partners that arming Saakashvili’s regime was a way to a military adventure, but the partners chose to ignore the warning. As a result, Georgia went to war against South Ossetia. Should one take it then that some people are unable to learn history lessons?
