by Ghia Nodia, Professor, Ilia State University Talking is better than fighting. The ability to resolve conflicts through negotiation rather than violence is what distinguishes a civilized society from a backward one. One cannot claim to be a truly modern person without sharing this view. Modern civilization may have failed …
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Cars with Georgian license plates in Akhalgori, 2018. Photo: parliamentrso.org Ten years after Moscow rolled its tanks into Georgia, formalizing its politico-military presence in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region, Tbilisi has yet to formulate a policy that would uphold at least minimal human rights standards in the occupied territories, let alone …
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Archil Tatunashvili. Photo: facebook.com/achiko.tatunashvili.58 February 19-25 A Citizen Dies in Tskhinvali Custody – Europe reacts to Tatunashvili’s death – Amnesty International Human Rights Report – Deputy Commander of the Russian Southern Military District visits Tskhinvali – Russian proxies meet in Tskhinvali – Putin Decorates 2008 War Pilot – battle readiness …
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Valeriy Pshenichniy, chief of staff of the Russian 4th military base stationed in Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, February 15, 2018. Photo: screengrab from TV Ir February 12-18 Georgia in the DNI report – There is a voters club for Putin’s election in Abkhazia – Bibilov visits Russian MIA – Transnistria delegation in …
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Russian Deputy Minister for North Caucasus Igor Koshin (middle in the right row) with Tskhinvali leader Anatoly Bibilov, February 8, 2018. Photo: presidentruo.org February 5-11 1 644 Abkhaz, S.Ossetians treated in Georgian hospitals – Putin signs Tskhinvali military agreement – Additional electoral precincts for Putin’s election in March – Luhansk and Tskhinvali want …
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Giorgi Kvirikashvili at confirmation hearings in the Parliament, December 20, 2017. Photo: 1tv.ge Opinion of international relations analyst David Batashvili. Georgia’s present diplomacy regarding the Russian aggression is, overall, a correct and pragmatic one. Georgian Foreign Ministry openly states that we have a conflict between two nations – Georgia and …
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Toivo Klaar. Photo: EUSR Office Toivo Klaar, long-time Estonian and EU diplomat, was appointed as the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia in November 2017. Klaar, who led the Central Asia Division at the European External Action Service (EEAS) prior to this appointment, will …
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South Ossetian and Abkhaz “foreign ministers,” Dmitry Medoev and Daur Kove, respectively, together with Grigory Logvinov, ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Nauru, February 1, 2018. Photo: mfa-rso.su Members of the Russian-backed Sokhumi and Tskhinvali authorities were on a visit to Nauru last week, where they met the …
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Georgian opera singer Giorgi Todua giving a concert in Gali, January 24, 2018. Photo: screengrab from Galtv January 29-February 4 Georgian singer “will hardly visit his father’s grave ever again:” – Khajimba thinks about controlling social networks – “Ideology” official to work on Gali schools – Georgia pushes back on …
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Anatoly Bibilov and Milorad Dodik, January 10, 2018. Photo: RTRS The Moscow-backed leader of South Ossetia, Anatoly Bibilov, was on a three-day trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina in early January. In Banja Luka, Bibilov held two meetings with Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik and took part in the disputed Day of …
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Konstantin Zatulin, member of the Russian Duma, addresses the Duma hearing on medical assistance to Abkhazia. Photo: screengrab from Duma hearing January 22-28 Moscow ratifies Tskhinvali deal – Karasin chats regional politics with Medoev – Sees him off to Nauru – Abkhazia Cossacks (surprise!) back Putin re-election – Russia mulls …
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Raul Khajimba on a tour of meetings with supporters. Photo: RFE/RL January 15-21 Bibilov preps for Putin Vote – Russia plumps for 2/3 Abkhazia Budget – Poroshenko sanction solidarity offer – Khajimba cajoles supporters…while Shamba throws lot with opposition – Russia troops drill – Tskhinvali records 514 “border” detentions – …
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This article has originally appeared in Balkan Insight There is a Russian saying, “С кем поведешься, от того и наберешься”, which roughly means that all things good and bad tend to rub off the company you keep. By rolling out the red carpet to the Russia-backed leader of occupied South …
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Moscow-backed Tskhinvali leader Anatoly Bibilov visiting the frontline in Donetsk, January 7, 2018. Photo: screengrab from TV Union January 1-14 Senate Democrats report on Russian aggression – Bibilov discovers South Ossetia’s “twin” – Bibilov visits Ukrainian frontline – More Georgian territory claimed by Russia’s proxies – Abkhazia polling stations for …
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Pardoning and the subsequent release of Giorgi Lukava, a 51-year-old ethnic Georgian, from Abkhazia’s Dranda prison has stirred anti-government protests in the region, with opposition members and activists slamming Abkhaz leader Raul Khajimba for his decision to hand over the prisoner to Tbilisi and demanding his resignation. We have asked …
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“Russian ambassador” to Tskhinvali Marat Kulakhmetov briefing local authorities on the forthcoming Russian presidential election, December 18, 2017. Photo: screengrab from TV Ir December 18-29 Karasin rails against Georgia-NATO defense cooperation – the U.S. lists Russia’s aggression against Georgia among global challenges – Khajimba wants constitutional changes – Moscow fills …
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Victor Fyodorov, “head of general staff” under the Tskhinvali Russian-backed authorities, explaining the details of Moscow’s new military agreement with the region, December 15, 2017. Photo: screengrab from TV Ir December 11-17 42nd Round of the GID – Idea voiced about Enguri river customs post – Budget adoption process launched in …
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Russian peacekeepers monument in Sokhumi. Photo: mil.ru December 4-10 Lavrov’s respect for territorial integrity – Friends of Georgia group expresses support – Janelidze lists international law violations – November numbers for the occupation line detentions – Bibilov reiterates his wish to see Tskhinvali Region within Russia – Russian peacekeepers monument …
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Vladimir Putin submitted to the State Duma the agreement with Tskhinvali on the inclusion of some South Ossetian units into the armed forces of the Russian Federation. Photo: kremlin.ru November 27 – December 3 Russian MID angry about Javelins – The complicated fate of the Kilmarnock memorial – Russia to …
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Houses of ethnic Georgians near Tskhinvali stand in ruins, November 21, 2017. Photo: screengrab from TV Ir November 20 – November 26 In search for excuses to demolish houses in the Georgian villages – Khajimba comes on a visit – Bibilov mentions transit route – Illegal detentions continue – Kulakhmetov congratulates Tskhinvali …
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