The Conflict between Georgia and Russia about Republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia - PowerPoint Presentation Example

Also known as the August War, it began on 8th August 2008 and lasted until 22nd August 2008, when Russia declared a ceasefire, putting an end to an overwhelming military offensive against Georgia.

Georgians and Ossetians had fought a war previously in 1992 that was sparked off as a result of the recognition of an Ossetian government by Russia, which had proclaimed liberation from the Georgian state. Some of the enclaves in South Ossetia were occupied by Georgians, who had had very healthy relations with Ossetian until the Soviet times with even a high rate of intermarriages between the two communities. On 7th August 2008, Georgia initiated a major ground and air offensive against Ossetian militants that were largely based in the capital, Tskhinvali. Although Georgia alleges that it was done to counter Russian troop movements into the region, Russia was forced into the war when 12 of its peacekeepers were killed in an air raid by Georgian warplanes. On 8th August, Russia launched attacks into the Georgian territory that extended until the cities of Gori and Sukhumi, which lie well within absolute Georgian territory. Russia further opened an additional front by attacking Abkhazia. After 5 days of continuous fighting that included street battles, the Russian army had reached within 30 km of the capital Tbilisi.

The European Union made a significant contribution by mediating through President Nicolas Sarkozy, who brokered a ceasefire deal by visiting the leadership in Georgia and Russia, which ultimately ended major fighting by August 16th. In the coming days, the Russian army began pulling back from Georgian territory and began establishing buffer zones along the way that served as checkpoints into South Ossetia and Georgia. On 26th August 2008, Russia formally recognizes both regions as independent and completed a total withdrawal by October 8th although troops are still stationed in both these places as part of bilateral agreements. Despite the ceasefire, tensions between both countries remain high owing to these regions.