| Russia-Georgia War Revisited |
The tensions knocked at the door of the Caucasus region in mid-2008. Fighting erupted when Georgian soldiers attacked their breakaway enclave, South Ossetia in the early days of August. Notably, South Ossetia won its de facto independence in the early 1990s.
Following the deaths of civilians, Russia decided to enter the conflict with troops and tanks to support the disputed region. It further stationed its troops in Abkhazia, another breakaway region, and carried out airstrikes on the Georgian capital Tbilisi. The battle did not only claim scores of lives but also witnessed displacement of thousands of civilians. The fighting intensified when the Russian troops entered the Georgian territory and briefly acquired a military base in Senaki.
Mediation efforts by the EU’s French presidency proved fruitful when Russia and Georgia reached a preliminary ceasefire agreement on August 12. Medvedev inked the revised ceasefire four days later.
Defying the international community, Russia unilaterally recognised South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent regions on August 26.
On September 08, Medvedev vowed to withdraw troops from Georgia by mid-October. Russia also allowed EU observers to scrutinise the withdrawal of troops from outside the breakaway enclaves. A month later, Russia withdrew troops from buffer zones.
However, the story did not end there. Russian troops retook a village near the breakaway region of South Ossetia in the second week of December, just hours after pulling out.
For Russia, the conflict with Georgia is believed to have become an opportunity for the Kremlin to establish its supremacy in the region.
Russia – Putin introduces Medvedev to Presidency
First President, then Prime Minister! This is the status of Vladimir Putin who left the Presidential office after the expiry of his term in March. He placed his former aide, Dmitri A Medvedev, in the Kremlin in May. Putin, however, failed to keep himself away from the Russian political scene and started serving as Prime Minister after gaining Parliament’s approval.
Putin, however, seems to be in no mood to stay away from the spotlight. The Lower House of the Russian Parliament in November passed a bill extending the term of the office of the President from four to six years, a move which may lead to Putin’s return as President.
Georgia – President tightens hold on chair
Back with a bang! Mikheil Saakashvili won 52% of the vote in the January 06 Presidential Elections to retain his throne. The allegation of abuse of power had forced him to call early polls in November 2007.
The year also saw new a new entry into the Prime Minister’s office. Lado Gurgenidze was replaced by Grigol Mgaloblishvili as the PM in October.
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