2008. Georgia. Russo-Georgian Relations (Part 6).
“Georgians protesting against Russian occupation and government policies in June 2019” by Kober under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The relationship between Georgia and Russia has been strained for decades, with issues like territorial disputes, ethnic tensions, and geopolitical rivalries fueling the tension. The 2008 Russo-Georgian war remains a significant point of conflict between the two countries, with Russia's military intervention leading to the occupation of two Georgian territories, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In 2015, Russia signed a treaty with South Ossetia that the West viewed as an annexation deal. This move and Russia's continued support of separatist movements in Georgia have alarmed the West and raised tensions in the region.
The Tagliavini Report, published in 2015, concluded that the war was a result of "a miscalculation by both sides," and both countries were responsible for human rights violations. However, Georgia accused Russia of war crimes during the conflict, which Russia denied. The report also highlighted the role of Russia in the conflict and criticized its actions as disproportionate. In recent years, Russia has continued to assert its dominance in the region through various means, including the annexation of Crimea in Ukraine, and its support for separatist movements in Georgia.
Georgia's desire to join NATO has been a point of contention with Russia, which has warned of a "terrible conflict" if Georgia were to join the alliance. Despite this warning, Georgia has continued to strengthen its ties with the West, including NATO, and has taken steps to improve its military capabilities. In 2018, the NATO-Georgia Commission declared that Georgia will become a member of NATO one day, further fueling Russia's ire.
In addition to the military conflict, Russia has been quietly seizing territory in Georgia through a process known as "borderization," which involves the installation of fences and other barriers along the administrative boundary lines of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This process has resulted in the loss of land for Georgia and has further strained relations between the two countries.
The Georgian people remain strongly pro-West, and protests against Russian interference in Georgia have been ongoing since 2019. The Georgian government has also been vocal in its condemnation of Russia, with the prime minister stating that Russia is still occupying 20% of the country. The conflict between Russia and Georgia continues to simmer, with both sides showing no signs of backing down. As Russia continues to flex its muscles in the region, the geopolitical tensions are likely to persist, and the future of Russo-Georgian relations remains uncertain.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on March 31, 2023
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PPutin Is A War Criminal
Russia Is A Terrorist State:
Part 1 (1990s)
Part 2 (2000s)
Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Part 4 (2016 - 2019)
Part 5 (2020 - 2021)
Part 6: (2022+)
Sources for 2008. Georgia. Russo-Georgian Relations (Part 6):
Living on the Shifting Border of Georgia and Russia - The New York Times February 13, 2018
Georgia accuses Russia of war crimes during 2008 conflict - The Guardian May 23, 2018
NATO-Georgia Commission Declaration at the Brussels Summit - NATO July 12, 2018
Georgia slams Russia 'occupation' ahead of war games - DW August 1, 2018
A decade after war, Putin-backed 'borderization' costs Georgia land - NBC News August 3, 2018
Ten Years Ago, Russia Invaded Georgia - VOA News August 6, 2018
Russia Vs. Georgia: The War That Shook The Caucasus - RFERL August 6, 2018
Georgia remains strongly pro-West 10 years after war with Russia - Al Jazeera August 6, 2018
The Russo-Georgian War’s lesson: Russia will strike again - Atlantic Council August 10, 2018
Lessons from the Russo-Georgia War 10 Years Later - U.S. News August 15, 2018
Russia is still occupying 20% of our country, Georgia’s prime minister says - CNBC January 22, 2019
Russia suspends Georgia flights after violent clashes - BBC News June 22, 2019
Georgians Have Now Been Protesting Russian Interference for a Week. Here's Why - TIME June 27, 2019
Russia says Georgia isn't safe. Russians in Georgia say otherwise - BBC News June 27, 2019
Russia plays games with Georgia - The Economist July 6, 2019