10 Years since Russia’s Military Aggression and Occupation of Georgian Territories

In August 2008 Georgia fell victim to open military aggression by the Russian Federation that resulted in illegal occupation of Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia. Russia’s large-scale military invasion in Georgia in blatant violation of fundamental norms and principles of international law served as a direct attack on European security and the international order. Few years later the same pattern was used
against Ukraine. These events have made it crucial to duly assess the challenges emanating from Russia and the unresolved conflicts with the aim to think of the ways for lasting peace and security.
RUSSIA’S MILITARY INVASION IN GEORGIA IN 2008
Russian aggression against Georgia was premeditated and thoroughly calculated. Moscow had started preparation long before the actual war. In 2006 Russia built a military base in Java in the North of Tskhinvali.
Later in the beginning of 2008 Moscow unilaterally lifted CIS arms and economic embargo on two Georgian regions and established the formal ties with the illegal regimes. In May-June 2008, Kremlin started sending railroad troops, deploying military forces and offensive weaponry in Abkhazia region. These developments sharply escalated the situation on the ground. In the period right before the invasion, in July 2008 Russia conduced a large-scale military exercise “Caucasus 2008” near the Georgian border with involvement of 8000
troops and 700 armored fighting vehicles. Russian troops did not leave the area after the exercise wasfinished.
Vladimir Putin himself did not try to hide the fact that the plan for military invasion existed about two years before the war: “There was a plan in place, and I think it is no secret that Russian forces acted in accordance with it. The general staff drew up this plan somewhere in late 2006 or early 2007. I approved it,” – said Putin.
Ten years ago the provocationsstarted with massive attacks on Georgian controlled villages by Russian-backed Ossetian volunteers who used machine guns and grenade launchers against the local civilian population. The escalation of armed conflict was directly preceded by the units of Russia’s 58th Army crossing the international
border of Georgia through the Roki Tunnel on 7 August 2008. At the same time Russian forces crossed the state border of Georgia into Abkhazia region. With an artificial pretext of protecting the Russian citizens on Georgian soil (i.e. the residents of Georgia who became victims of Russia’s illegal passportization), Moscow
started a large-scale attack against the sovereign country on land, at sea, by air, and via cyberspace. Russian aviation bombed more than 20 cities and villages throughout the whole territory of Georgia, including Tbilisi and Kutaisi. 165 bombs and missiles were dropped using SU-24, SU-25, SU-27, MIG-29 type military aircraft
and TU-22M strategic bombers. Cluster bombs and other types of weapons banned by the international agreements were also used by Russian forces. As a consequence of Russia’s open aggression hundreds of
people, including civilians were killed and wounded, 53 Georgian villages were cleansed, houses of 35 000 people were burnt and destroyed. Russia additionally occupied 125 Georgian controlled villages. The war was accompanied by yet another ethnic cleansing of Georgians, creating a wave of 130 thousand IDPs fleeing the villages undershelling and aviation fire. It is obviousthat Russia’s unrestrained forces would have gone further
if the international society did not take a firm stance. On 12 August 2008, the EU Presidency successfully mediated a ceasefire between Georgia and Russia. On behalf of the EU, the President of France Nicolas Sarkozy was directly mediating the process. The Ceasefire
Agreement laid a foundation for stopping Russia’s large-scale military aggression against Georgia.
Nevertheless, Moscow continued bombing and attacking of Georgian villages and cities even after the conclusion of the Ceasefire Agreement.
The EU mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement stipulates that Russia and Georgia should withdraw their forces to the positions that they had held before the war. However, despite the continuous calls from the international community, Russia, up to this point, continues violating the Agreement. While Georgia has implemented all provisions of the ceasefire, Moscow hasfurther reinforced its illegal military presence in both Georgian regions destabilizing the security environment in entire Europe.
Following the military invasion the Russian Federation recognized the so-called independence of Georgia’s occupied regions in gross violation of the fundamental norms and principles of international law, such as inviolability of internationally recognized borders and territorial integrity ofsovereign states. Through itsillegal attemptsto redraw the bordersin Europe by force Russia directly attacked the rules-based international order.
In 2008 Moscow created a dangerous precedent that was practiced in Ukraine later. These events clearly demonstrate that the August 2008 war was not an isolated case. These steps serve as a testing ground for Moscow to evaluate the decisiveness of international community to stand up for the peace and security, and the fundamental principles of international law.