Backgrounders

How up to 5,000 civilians were slaughtered & several hundred thousand more displaced in the 1990s. Wartime crimes and population distortions at root of rebel regime’s illegitimacy; return of refugees key to resolving separatist conflicts.

The story of how Georgia’s peaceful ethnic mosaic unraveled is a story of a tinderbox set alight by calculated Russian interference. What happened in Abkhazia was not unique: Russia attempted ethnic rebellions in the Baltic states (fomenting Russian speaking minorities), Ukraine (encouraging Crimean separatism), and Moldova (supporting the enclaves of Transdniester and Gagauzia), among other places.

But it was in Abkhazia that the full horror of those policies ran their course.

	Georgia Update is a service of the Government of Georgia offering updates on recent developments. Should you have any comments or inquiries related to Georgia Update, please email georgia.update@gmail.com. Backgrounders Chronology of Russian Aggression in Georgia 19.06.2009 Annex 1. Russian Federation withdraws from the 1996 CIS agreement 19.06.2009 Annex 2. Russian State Duma declaration on Russian policy regarding Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria 19.06.2009 Annex 3. Russian President Vladimir Putin's letter to the de facto leaders 19.06.2009 Annex 4. Putin's Instructions to the Russian Federation Government with Regard to Abkhazia and South Ossetia 19.06.2009 Annex 5. UNOMIG Report on UAV 19.06.2009 Annex 6. On the situation in conflict zones 19.06.2009 Annex 7. Measures to Strengthen the Collective CIS Peace Keeping Force in the Georgian-Abkhaz Zone of Conflict 19.06.2009 Annex 8. 29 April Photos of Russian Armor on Abkhazian railway 19.06.2009 Annex 9. Media report on Russian deployment of additional airborne battalion in Abkhazia 22.06.2009 Annex 10. Media report on Russian deployment of additional airborne battalion in Abkhazia 22.06.2009 Annex 11-2. TV Stories about Russian Airborne Troops in Abkhazia 22.06.2009 Annex 12. Russian MOD report on Russian Railway Troops in Abkhazia 22.06.2009 Annex 14. List of police officers wounded on 3 July 22.06.2009 Annex 15. 3 July Attack on Dimitry Sanakoev 22.06.2009 Annex 16. Russian MFA Information and Press Department Commentary Concerning the Situation in South Ossetia 22.06.2009 Annex 17. Russia launched large-scale military exercises “Caucasus 2008” 22.06.2009 Annex 18. Russian Army deployed near the Georgian border 22.06.2009 Annex 18-1. "Caucasus-2008" - Russian armor near the Roki Tunnel 22.06.2009 Annex 19. “Know Your Enemy” 22.06.2009 Annex 19-1. General Viacheslav Borisov on radio-station "Echo Moskvy" 22.06.2009 Annex 20. OSCE on Andzisi Firing 22.06.2009 Annex 21. List of police officers wounded on August 1 22.06.2009 Annex 22-1. 1 August Attack on Police Vehicle 22.06.2009 Annex 23. JPF Report 22.06.2009 Annex 24. List of people wounded on August 1-2 22.06.2009 Annex 26. South Ossetian de facto regime announced the evacuation of civilian population 22.06.2009 Annex 28. List of Russian Journalists working in South Ossetia during the War 22.06.2009 Annex 30. Mindzaev threatened to bomb the towns of Gori, Kareli and one of the health-resort zones in Georgia 22.06.2009 Annex 31. Eduard Kokoity announced that 300 “volunteers” (i.e. mercenaries) from North Ossetia had already arrived in South Ossetia 22.06.2009 Annex 32. Don Kossacks promissed military support to Kokoity 22.06.2009 Annex 33. Casualties among Georgian Peacekeepers 22.06.2009 Annex 37-1. Russian media on the flow of mercenaries from the North Caucasus into Tskhinvali Region 22.06.2009 Annex 38. Deputy Commander of Don Cossack Forces Vladimir Voronin interview with Russian radio station “Echo Moskvi” 22.06.2009 Annex 41. transcripts of intercepted communications 22.06.2009 Annex 47. Evidence Russia started the war 26.06.2009 Annex 48. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 27.06.2009 Annex 49. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 27.06.2009 Annex 50. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 27.06.2009 Annex 51. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 27.06.2009 Annex 52. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 27.06.2009 Annex 53. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 27.06.2009 Annex 54. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 27.06.2009 Annex 55. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 27.06.2009 Annex 56. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 27.06.2009 Annex 57. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 27.06.2009 Annex 58. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 27.06.2009 Annex 59. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 27.06.2009 Annex 60. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 27.06.2009 Annex 61. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 27.06.2009 Annex 62. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 27.06.2009 Annex 63. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 30.06.2009 Annex 64. Article in "Le Figaro" confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 02.07.2009 Annex 65. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 02.07.2009 Annex 66. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 02.07.2009 Annex 67. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 02.07.2009 Annex 68. Article in the Russian press confirming that Russian troops had entered South Ossetia prior to August 8 02.07.2009 Annex 71. Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia on the situation in the Tskhinvali region 02.07.2009 Annex 72. Eduard Kokoity's briefing 02.07.2009 Annex 73. Eduard Kokoity's statement on REN TV on August 7, 2008 02.07.2009 Annex 77. Sergei Bagapsh statement on RTR 02.07.2009 Russian Invasion of Georgia; Facts & Figures 16.04.2010 Russian Cyberwar on Georgia 18.11.2008 Ethnic Cleansing in Abkhazia: The history 02.06.2008 How up to 5,000 civilians were slaughtered & several hundred thousand more displaced in the 1990s. Wartime crimes and population distortions at root of rebel regime’s illegitimacy; return of refugees key to resolving separatist conflicts. The story of how Georgia’s peaceful ethnic mosaic unraveled is a story of a tinderbox set alight by calculated Russian interference. What happened in Abkhazia was not unique: Russia attempted ethnic rebellions in the Baltic states (fomenting Russian speaking minorities), Ukraine (encouraging Crimean separatism), and Moldova (supporting the enclaves of Transdniester and Gagauzia), among other places. But it was in Abkhazia that the full horror of those policies ran their course.	Choose language: In English По русскии ქართულად Choose category: Georgia Update Backgrounders Russian Invasion Facts International Media Statements EU Tagliavini Commission Subscribe: To subscribe to Georgia Update e-mail and/or SMS alerts, please click here. You can also subscribe to the Georgia Update RSS feed.
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