Could someone please explain to me the Georgian/Russian War? I'm confused...

Question

I listen to NPR, I read articles about it, yet... I'm still confused.

What I get out of it is that Georgia is trying to claim this country/territory that is allied (or?) with Russia... But the media is making it out like Russia is the bad guy? I just heard something on NPR about McCain wanting the UN to do something because he thinks Russia is trying to rebuild the Russian Empire.

If Georgia started it, then why is Russia to blame?

Please explain this to me. I must be misunderstanding this whole thing.

Thanks!

Answer 1

South Ossetia and Abkhazia used to be part of Georgia and Georgia used to be part of Russia back when Russia was still the Soviet Union (Georgia became independent when the Soviet Union collapsed). In the early 1990s, they declared independence from Georgia as they wanted to align with Russia instead of Georgia which was becoming pro-western. South Ossetia and Abkhazia are both recognized by all countries of the United Nations as being part of Georgia, not as independent states. Last week, several shootings occurred between Georgian soldiers and South Ossetian soldiers. Georgia responded by entering the capital of South Ossetia and shelling their infrastructure in an effort to retake what is legally their territory. Russia, on the grounds that several citizens of South Ossetia have Russian passports and are therefore Russian citizens, decided to intervene by taking military action against Georgia in and beyond the conflict zone of South Ossetia. It was expected that Russia would stop advancing past South Ossetia, but currently they have advanced as far as 25 miles from the capital of Georgia.

Answer 2

Georgia used to be owned by the USSR (Soviet Union). Sicne then, the soviet union has fallen and Georgia became an independent country, however, there are regions of Georgia that have been trying to become independent themselves and are supported in that effort by Russian. Georgia invaded them, and Russian attacked Georgia.

"The long-simmering conflict erupted in earnest last week when Georgia launched a surprise operation to seize control of South Ossetia, killing Russian peacekeepers and Russian citizens of the breakaway republic. An enraged Russia stormed into the breakaway republics with the full wrath of its military power, and opened a bombing campaign in Georgia proper." - LA Times