Devastating Effects and Complex Causes of the Five Days War in South Ossetia - Term Paper Example

The war between Georgia and Ossetia On 8th August 2008, the world’s attention was focused on Beijing where the opening of the 29th Olympic Games was taking place. Broadcasts were however interrupted by news of Georgia army attempts to take control of Tskhinvali, the main urban center of South Ossetia. The war that began as a local dispute between the Caucasus mountain villages changed its nature with the involvement of Russia. Georgia was an ally of the US and hosted their military personnel while South Ossetia had many Russian citizens. This paper aims at analyzing the five days war including the causes, consequences and how the war changed the nature of conflict. History The key issue of the conflict is the history of the two nations. It is important to determine who the original settlers in the region are. Georgia believes that they are the initial settlers of the place given that Ossetia settlement began two to three centuries before the war. The Ossetia nationals however believe they are a descendant of the Alans, a tribe that occupied the Caucasus in ancient times. In 1918, Georgia declared its independence and signed a friendly treaty with Russia in 1920 where it recognized South Ossetia as its integral part (Sammut and Cvetkovski 7). In 1918 Georgia left Russia and South Ossetia declared independence as a Soviet republic on 8th June 1920. Conflict arose after the separation with each nation justifying its move. The people believed that the issue would rise again, but the central question was how and when (Sammut and Cvetkovski 8). Causes of the war The causes of the war are complex and multifaceted. The Caucus has faced territorial struggles since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Since the 20004 election of the Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili tension in the region has been high. Mikhaels’s national policies were to further democratic reforms in Georgia and also pushed for the accession of Georgia to NATO. He tightened border controls and hence increased pressure on South Ossetia and what was called the Rose Revolution. He dismantled a smuggling operation organized by Russia and which included corrupt Georgia officials. He further gave military, police and intelligence personnel in South Ossetia arguing it was aimed at enhancing peacekeeping. Russia also sent its paramilitary to South Ossetia and also assisted those form Abkhazia and Transintria to gain access to South Ossetia. Clashes between the paramilitaries by late 2004 led to Russia and Georgia withdrawing most of their paramilitary forces. The international community intervened and helped deescalate the war. With the rising tension in the area; in July Russia conducted a military exercise involving more than 8000 troops near is border with Georgia. Georgia also carried out an exercise that involved 600 Georgia troops and 1000 us troops (Rahman 133). An Ossetia village police chief was killed by a bomb on 3rd July, 2008. The head of the Pro-Georgian government escaped injuries by a roadside mine on the same day. On that night, Georgia and South Ossetia launched attacks on each other's villages and checkpoints. There were rampant deaths and injuries and the European Union, the Council of Europe (COE), and the OSCE called for peace between the two parties. The UN discussed Russian military intervention of Georgia’s airspace while US Secretary of state Condoleezza rice called for Russia to respect Georgia’s territorial integrity. At the end of July paramilitaries from both sides escalated the ongoing violence. Georgia accused paramilitaries from Russia North Ossetia of attacking its villages. South Ossetia on 7th August also accused Georgia of launching a bombardment to Tskhinvali and on that day Saakashvili declared a ceasefire. He promised that as part of a peace settlement Georgia would give South Ossetia autonomy within Georgia. Surprisingly on the morning of 8th August Georgia military responded with armed forces in South Ossetia claiming that South Ossetia did not stop their attack on Georgia villages. The Russian army returned to defend South Ossetia and this resulted to the five days of intensive fight in the area. There were massive counter attack and the North Ossetia troop fought alongside the Russian troops. The managed to destroy Georgia’s airfield and also recaptured Tskhinvali (Rahman 135). The Russian government on 12th August announced that its military operation of coercing Georgia to peace had been achieved and hence concluded. The French President played a significant role in mediations that led to a ceasefire. On 26th August South Ossetia and Abkhazia were declared independent states (Rahman 136). Influence of geopolitical factors in that 5 day war The location of South Ossetia between Georgia and Russia was the primary cause of the conflict. Russia’s interests are because the nation is on the border of its volatile Northern Caucasus region. South Ossetia occupies approximately 3,900 sq. Km with two towns Tskhinvali and Java while the other land is made up of small villages. South Ossetia is a Christian nation and hence Russia being the only Christian people country in the north viewed it as its ally (Georgia 9). Relationship between Russia and Georgia The relationship between Russia and Georgia dates back to the 16th century, the relationship is complicated despite the many years of interaction between the two countries. The countries initial alliance was in 1783. In 1918, Georgia gained independence and established its republic separate from Russia. There was however tension between the two countries; it climaxed in 1992 during the conflict over Abkhazia. Georgia accused Russia peacemakers of their inactivity in Abkhazia while Russia accused Georgia of violating earlier agreements (Cornell and Starr 32). In 2006, the relationship deteriorated after Georgia detained four Russian officer with spying charges; Russia imposed economic sanctions on Georgia in retaliation. They started to depot Georgia nationals on charges of the visa violation. Russia attacked a two Georgia controlled villages in Tsitelubani on 7th August 2007 but denied the allegations accusing Georgia of the bombing. This further heightened the tension. The conflict over the control of South Ossetia and Abkhazia was a major setback to agreements between this two nations and which ultimately led to the Ossetia war (Cornell and Starr 41). A statement by the Russian ambassador to Georgia where he called Georgia a dying out nation, on 24th September 2007, resulted to public outrage in Georgia. In April 2008, Georgia accused Russia of shooting down its unarmed drone. The UN convened a meeting on 24th April, but it failed to resolve the dispute. After weeks, of raising tension Georgia launched a bombardment to Tskhinvali on 8th August 2008. Russian entered the war to assist South Ossetia. After the war and the declaration of independence to South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Russia, Georgia rejected the move terming it as an annexation to its territory. It hence cut all diplomatic ties with Russia. Putin visit to Abkhazia on 25th August 2013 to discuss bilateral collaboration sparked protest from the Georgian government who termed it as another violation on its integrity. Consequences of the war Georgia lost in the war and was driven out of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which were under its control. Georgian nationals living in South Ossetia were turned out or left nation in ethnic cleansing in South Ossetia villages, approximately 192,000 people were misplaced. The economies in this region were immensely destroyed; a good example is the Georgia’s infrastructure and Russian also rooting. Georgia’s democratic process has also been slowed down (Boonstra 2). It is difficult to assess Russia losses and gains from the war. Russia managed to display its military might and also showed its monopoly power over the military in the Caucasus (Boonstra 4). Conclusion The five days war had devastating effects and complex causes. It is a clear evidence of conflicts based on location. Both Russia and Georgia wanted to control South Ossetia and hence the conflict. The causes of the war are not exact, but we can conclude that the war was, as a result, of the tension between Russia and Georgia. Work cited Cornell Svante and Starr Frederick. The guns of August 2008: Russian War in Georgia. New York: M.E Sharpe Inc., 2009. Print. Boonstra Jos. Georgia and Russia: a short war with a long aftermath. C/ Goya, 5-7 pasaje 2ª - 28001 Madrid. 2008. Print. Georgia: Avoiding War in South Ossetia. ICG Europe Report N°159 Brussels, 26 November 2004. Print. Rahman Sajjadur M. Georgia and Russia: “What Caused the August War? Identity, Culture & Politics: An Afro-Asian Dialogue”. ODESRIA, ICES 10. Number 1 July 2009. (2006). Pp. 132 - 146. Print. Sammut, Dennis and Cvetkovski Nikola. Confidence Building Matters: The Georgia—South Ossetia Conflict. No 6 VERTIC, London, March 1996. Print. Read More