Who was the initial aggressor in the current conflict between Georgia and Russia in Ossetia?

Question

I'm confussed as to why this conflict actually started. Was it Georgia encroaching on Osseita or Russia wanting to take control of Osseita?

Answer 1

personally, and i know this doesn't answer the question, i think russia is doing the right thing here. a) s. Ossetia WANTS to break from russia. b) the refugees from s. Ossetia say that there has been genocide. c) russia is trying to do something good. HOORAY!!!

russia also has a few faults in this...

2006 september-october, georgia found 4 russian officers SPY"ING!!!!!

uh oh for russia!In March, a village in the Georgian controlled area of Abhkazia was according to Georgia attacked by three Russian helicopters. Russia denied that it ever happend. a russian ambassador said "Russia is a large country, a huge country. It can digest this. You, the Georgians, will fail to digest this."

ouch......

now let's look at the georgians

there has been almost constant civil war on the georgians side. the attack on the 12 russians could have been one of the many sepratist groups disguised as georgian military. the civil wars have not been managed well. almost all of them were dealt with by military force when the people just wanted more representation.

so there you have it. this has almost all been based of of wikipedia and i hope you found it helpful

Answer 2

Russia Started it!. Russia needed reason to invade Georgia because of it's ambitions to become NATO and  EU member. Russia is afraid that in this case NATO will border it from the south also. S. Ossetia and Abkhazia are only reasons. on 1993 Russians made hundred of thousands of Georgians to leave their homes in this regions and become refugees in their own country. Many Georgians still live in S. Ossetia and abkhazia and Russians by shooting this Civilian Georgians provocated Georgian government which was trying to defend it's people and territory. Russia has a dream to become New world Leader and rebuild New Soviet Union!

Answer 3

well I'm from Georgia and I can tell you what's happening in FACT. now, let's begin.

Russia has a HUGE Territory on the continent and you know, ppl who have much, want more. that's a fact. and so, georgia is situated in such a place, that owning it would open the ways, much shorter ways to other countries. And, that Bounty Hunter, let's call him so, Putin I mean, actuallu he's Ruling the country still. Medvedev is just for look. If you've recognized, every President or Premier-minister meets PUTIN and NOT medvedev. so Putin has been planning this for a long time. He waited for august, people would be away from their places, and plus these Olympic games in Beijing, would be enough to draw people's attention to a different event. but, OOPS, Putin, that dream didn't come true.

At first he ordered the South Osetians to open fire to Georgia, to imitate, kinda osetians fought back the Georgian trying to capture South Osetia. then with this reason, Putin started sending MIG-s to Georgia, and bombing it. and after a couple of days, he just started bombing the whole Georgia. the whole world keeps speaking "Cease fire, Cease fire" but no effect. And Georgia can't withstand such a HUGE army from Russia. Putin sent 10000 troops and 200 tanks to Georgia in 1 HOUR. and now he is trying to overtake the whole Georgia. So, now Putin's and Medvedev's reputations have gone down to 0, and the Russian Media is broadcasting the opposite of what's happening in FACT. thus making the Russian people hate the Georgians. that's what Russia is doing. Osetia and Abkhazia is just a REASON. if you want to talk about it, IM me. [e-mail]. always welcome to reveal the truth about Georgia-vs-Russia.  

Answer 4

The Russian-funded separatists were really the initial aggressors, the attack on Osseita was to presumably to stop their raids.

It worked for Hitler, why not Putin?  Hand out passports to non-Russians and then provoke a response.  Then they have full legal authority to conquer the nation to protect their new citizens, just as Germany did to protect Germans in Czechoslovakia.

Answer 5

Twas Georgia.  They started it.  They proposed a cease fire and then during the night they moved in troops.  They killed over a thousand unarmed civilians.  The US news lies and pins the blame on russia.

Answer 6

It's American aggression backed by Israel. America was trying to get the Georgian ally to get control of the area because of the pipelines that run through that area.

It's all part of the ongoing War by the U.S. to get control of the oil resources of the middle east and other parts of the world.

You have to really see the big pitcher, why else dose the U.S. want Georgia to become part of the U.N. thank about it. NEW WORLD ORDER !  P.S.   U.N.  REALLY MEANS UNIFIED WORLD NATION.

The America government has trillions of dollars invested in Iraq and Afganastan, you don't think the U.S. isn't going to get it's investment back without profit yeah right, these people aren't that ignorant. Syria and Iran are next.

Answer 7

Russia it was Russia manipulating everything from the scenes theire the one taking profit from it !! ! Not Oseitia or Georgia Only Russia profits from the war and only Russia wanted a war Georgia's attack on Osetia gived Russia legal pretext to engade with Georgia in a combat (supposedly to protect poor Osetia but in reality to stop Georgia and humiliate it as a regime in the eyes of western world !)

Rusia attacked Georgia and wanted the war with Georgia the Osetia Incident is only a pretext !

Remember that Russia has the diplomatic power to stop Gergia without using any military if they wanted peace they would invite the Georgian president to Kreml and in a very harsh way demanded that Georgia would halt any actions against Osetia ....I dont belive that after that kinda warning Georgia would still take action in Osetia sorry Russia just wanted to go to the war to show the world Russia is still the same empire ! As it was in the cold war and that its dissatisfied with the West so the west should rethink its action or Russia will get mad and will kick some *** !!

We need to send Russia an information that it will never be respecpected for commiting crimes,and wars and that Russia cannot blacmail the world its really about all of us not only Georgia and Osetia !

Answer 8

The answer is actually quite simple...oil, power, and control.  If you check a regional map you will find Europe is feed by a oil pile line that runs directly through Georgia  This pipe line is the key to oil and gas in Europe. The problem, like the Arabs have use by the balls, Russia supplies Europe with most of its gas and oil.. Fact is Russia is making a grand power play...only question is who has the balls to stop them!

Answer 9

I suspect the oil pipeline through Ossetia has a lot to do with why Russia are so interested. It's usually about oil,they just aren't saying much about that on the news these days because journalists are just interested in getting a story, not the facts or history.

Answer 10

Sorry, Zarina. Its sad to hear your story.

But i have heard similar stories from georgian people. And also that ossetians have already years provoked georgians with gunfire. You should not only blame georgians for your misery.

I want also ask why the russian peacekeepers allowed it? Allowed the ossetians to provoke the georgians!

And if you lived in Ossetia, then it could not be South Odessa (thats in Ukraine). Or did you forgot the name of your country? :S

Answer 11

Georgia is the aggressor here. It is also backed by the yanks, hence the reason for Russia being the 'big bad wolf'. I know Russia has done some naughty things before but in this case I clearly see where the problem lies: and it is NOT with Russia.

The BBC has become very biased and reports only stories that are very one-sided. Shame on the Beeb!!!

Answer 12

HAMMURAB... Has it totally right..S.Ossetia belonged to Georgia and even the Russians admit to this..

Fine..The Russians are the peace keepers mandated by the UN or whatever..If so..Why were the Russians allowing the Ossetians to take pot shots at the Georgians?..Because the Russians are looking for any excuss to enter Georgia and humiliate them..And if they are the peace keepers..Why did the Russians go outside the S.Oseetian region??

Some of you act like all this just happened on friday..NO..It did'nt..S.Ossetians have been harassing Georgia for awhile now..Georgia is responding to the S.Ossetians harrasing them with small arms fire and mortars..Any one of you going to just sit their while someone throws stone's at you..NO..Your going to get up and kick their A**....

Answer 13

The Russians had to cross an internationally recognised border between Georgia and Russia to conduct military operations directed against Georgian targets - an act of aggression in anyone's book. The claim is that they are 'protecting' South Ossetians, who are deemed to be Russians, but any news report shows that this has gone beyond humanitarian intervention. So it's clear that Russia has violated internationlal law.

Georgia was dealing with an internal domestic situation in South Ossetia - whether they should have allowed South Ossetia to be independent or to join the Russian federation, or whether they should have sent in their armed forces to crack down on the semi-autonomous region (which is part of their sovereign territory, after all) is a separate issue.

The Russians would probably say that they are not doing anything different than NATO in Serbia in the 1990s when it intervened in Kosovo.

Answer 14

A little bit of history here and you'll understand a country like Georgia,of the size of south carolina,would not dare attack the biggest country in the world,if they weren't backed by the US and other NATO nations,this whole thing was a set up by the US,NATO forces and Israel for a much greater conflict; Brace yourselves folks,these are interesting times to be alive;History is being played as we write.

Old article showing the preparations: 2002

http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/me...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/340694...

More recent Ones: 2008

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,3830...

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,...

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1010...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25684774/

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1010...

By the way, we are on our way there too (in the more direct way):

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=662...

Answer 15

It's informational war! Many mass media in USA in Europe tells not true!

Russia isn't aggressor! GEORGIA bombed Ossetia for 2 days and all European and American mass media kept silence! But when Russia decided to stop the war, everebody made noise!

GEORGIA (not Russia) used fire system GRAD to destroy all usual people...they fired on schools, hospitals, houses...everything... They city is destroyed.

Words of refugees say about this.

And read also this:

http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/287...

Here is what REALLY happens http://www.russiatoday.com/news

Answer 16

Of coarse the aggressor is RUSSIA, it always tries and tried to stole Georgian territory, most of all don't know where Georgia is, i even don't talk about knowing Georgia history or culture. Russia has stolen by violence Abkhazia and s.Osetia from us, Russia knows that it is big country and can defeat small Georgia when he wants, so Russia uses its power against Georgia, it is bombing peacefully people in whole Georgia, it is bombing everything, there are a lot of not guilty people died because of their aggression, what about we can talk, Russia is country that doesn't love even its nation, president putin was the person who made NOR-DOST and BESLAN to its nation, russian people don't love eachother and how can anyone asktheme to love other,especiallyi GEORGIANs,  

Answer 17

Georgia attacked south ossetia as they want to be part of Russia. Georgia considers South Ossetia as part of them. Georgia attacked them to try and regain control of the region.

Russia attacks Georgia in defense of South ossetia as they have Russian citizenships. Russia is attacking Georgia in defence of the people of South Ossetia.

also South Ossetia broke away in 1991. Its not a matter of breaking away. Georgia signed a peace treaty in 1991 granting South Ossetia its right to independence/autonomy. Its not a matter of practicality. Its a matter of reality. Georgia signed away its right to South Ossetia.

Geogia is the aggressor, backed by the U.S as America wants them to join nato.

Answer 18

It started when Georgia broke away from Russia after Communism fell. South Odessia, a province of Georgia (with a large russian population) wanted to join with Russia, but Georgia wouldn't allow it to.

This has led to tensions over the years. However, a few days ago during the fighting, twelve Russian peacekeepers were killed by Georgians during one of the attacks on S. Odessia. This has caused the launch of Russia to help push the Georgians out.

However, it's escalated into more than that now.

So, to answer your question, Georgia. Because:

1. They failed to respect the right of S. Odessia to join with N. Odessia (which is located in Russia)

2. They attacked Russians who were (supposedly) there neutrally

Answer 19

If you really believe in Russia today who puts the link here, then be ready for lies. That's what Russian media is full of. Russia is just doing what he wants. S.Ossetia provoked also Georgia so far as doing one-sided occasional shootings against Georgia. Russia doesn't like democracy and wants to show who is the boss in the area. Everything was already planned, they needed just a good excuse. S. Ossetia was a good tool for that.

I also think that the statement that Russia stopped the aggression against Georgia is not so much true. Most part of Georgia is occupied right now. So don't be fooled by the statement. Maybe they needed to say it  because the president of France is in Moscow at the moment.

Answer 20

Sorry, that I speak English only a little bit. I left school many years ago. Now I'm in Russia and try to tell peole what happend in my native town. I try to do it without emotion. Because we stayed at our friends. Thank goodness that we are alive and with the roof over the head.

I've lived in South Odessa. It's very beautiful and nice place, but several years since the first war against Georgia it's poor place too. But we love our country most of all. I have lived till we exposed to bombardment.

First we don't understood what happend. Sure we awaited it. When radio said that Georgia was going to attack, most of our women with children left Tshinval. I stayed with my husband.

It's seems that Russia near us, but from Tshinval to Vladikavkaz a half of the day on hard mountain road. And we hoped that georgian didn't dare to attact peaceful people.

I stood up because we heared strikes and bombs. It was so terrifying. I was only in night-dress. And my old granny too. Ny husband said that we should  woke up our heihbours and hided in their cellar. All night 8 men sat in the little cold cellar and listened to bombs.

We decided go to Vladikavkaz, but on next day it was impossible. Many georgian visited our houses. Two of them stealed our tape-recorder, jewelry and wine. They rush into my house with automata, shouted in georgisch, pushed us into the lavatory and all that time conducted a search of the house. We were without light and water. All day we sat in the house and afraided to open the door or windows. The guns thundered, one Ossetian solder wanted to hide in our house because georgian shooted at everything and every body. Boy, who tried to helped me to bring the water, fallen to earth right in front of me. It was touched with a percussion grenade. His blood was on me. I tried to rise him up, but he couldn't stand up. He died on my arms. And nobody want help me. Everybody run to their houses.

I don't condemn common geogians. We have lived in one town together and have been friendly. But geogian solders who shooted down us, who didm't have guns and couldn't defend ourthelves, they must be shoot down.

We have never been under Georgia or Russia since 19 century. But our free beautiful place don't allow to georgians sleep. So I hope that degenerate Saakashvilli and monster Bush, who helped and sponsored him, wiil be shoot down too.

You can call Russia as you wish, but we can hope only russians, who saved us and chased away georgian solders.  

Answer 21

Georgia and the rebels call a cease fire between themselves. Four hours latter Georgia opens fire, after using the time to take a new positions.

Georgia attacked S.Ossetian city of Tashkvili, killing 10 russian solders and over 1000 civilians in 1 night.

Russia run to the UN in the same day (middle of the night meeting), the UN failed to come to a resolution, fighting continued.

Russia moves trops into the region to protect the civilians, (90 percent of the russian). Many flee the area, georgia contines to shell the city.

Russian troops and armour arrive on the scene 20 hours later after the beginning of the shelling. Almost to late, the city is in ruins, large influx of injured in the hospitals.

Russia begins to pull out the civilians, transporting them in their own armour, trying to grant a safe passage.

Russian engages in direct contact with the Georgian forces, they retreat. Georgia suffers a fatal blow in their military, with over half the airforce destroyed. Russia regains controll over the city.

Georgia pleas to the international comunity for help.

Answer 22

georgia did!!!! they cant stand the fact that south ossetia wants to be with russia and they want it all to themselves. russia is not the agressor! georgia is, but they are trying to look like the victim just because they are an ally of the US.

Answer 23

Some people have this one VERY wrong!

Georgia gained independence from Russia in 1991.

South Ossetia (population 70,000) was ALWAYS part of Georgia, even prior to Georgian independence in 1991.

Georgia did NOT sign its rights to Ossetia away. What it did was give it a degree of Autonomy WITHIN Georgia.

South Ossetians were also NOT initially Russian Citizens, they were Soviet Citizens until 1991, then became Georgian citizens after the fall of the USSR.

The Russians then later distributed free Russian passports to South Ossetians. This was done to give Russia a foothold in the area, and give them an EXCUSE to interfere. Ossetians are not ethnic Russians.

South Ossetia covers an area where Oil and Gas pipelines go through from Russian oilfields to Europe, Russia wants to retain control of these resources routes. That is the main reason they are involved there.

The other reason is that Georgia is a Western style Democracy, it wants to join NATO and become aligned to the European Union...Russia sees this as a threat.

Russia is also interfering in and trying to intimidate Ukraine, Armenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Belorus, as well as waging a brutal campaign of repression in Chechnya.

In terms of STARTING the war, Russia stepped into Georgias teritory, distributing Russian passports, sent in armed "peacekeepers", then supplied South Ossetian seperatists with weapons and helped and encouraged them to attack Georgia, shelling, bombing and sniping at the Georgians, this has been going on, on and off for 17 years....eventually the Georgians had enough, and sent in the troops to end it....the Russians knew they would have to, and under the false pretext of defending its new "citizens" they attacked Georgia and occupied South Ossetia....which is EXACTLY what they wanted all along!

Answer 24

1) What difference who posesses the rights to territory Ossetia.

2) Georgia has destroyed more than 1500 peace inhabitants of Ossetia.

3) UN in 1991 has established Russia the peacemaker in the given region.

Answer 25

russia doesn't want control of south ossetia. they are just protecting the citizens that live there because more then half of them are russian citizens. georgia started it when they killed about 1400 russians in ossetia. therefor starting a genocide.  

Answer 26

Both and neither.

d**n near every war on this earth is fought for financial reasons, for the benefit of business.

Georgia could care less about the people of South Ossetia, they want the land for ethnic Georgians.

Russia could care less about the people of South Ossetia.  There invasion of Georgia was for economic reasons, not to save the people of South Ossetia.

The Iraq war was about oil as was the Afghanistan war.

Ideology, terrorism, WMD, tyrants, dictators, these are all red herrings.  Ideological BS for public consumption because the public cannot stomach the truth and wouldn't outright support wars for economic gain.

Unless the leadership of a nation is insane (IE like Hitler) they choose the wars they fight carefully, calculating the risk/benefit potentials for their nation's corporations and banks.

What is really disgusting, besides war for profit, is the shameless propaganda fed to the public through the media.  Yahoo itself posts stories on the Russia/Georgia/South Ossetia conflict and does not even mention the initial shelling of South Ossetia which killed an estimated 2000 people.

All they mention is how terrible Russia is being, how the US is thinking of expelling them from the G8, how they are targeting civilians (unsubstantiated).  Clearly Washington wants the average American to have a unfavorable opinion of Russia.

If the U.S. decides to blockade Iran, guess whose disapproving opinion will be downplayed.

Answer 27

well South Ossetia is part of Georgia, but many Russians live there!! Russia was trying to take control of South Ossetia by invading it.

When Georgia started to fight back, Russia started bombing towns in Georgia - a BBC News crew were nearly bombed by a Russian Plane (they were on the border of South Ossetia and Georgia)

For more information and the latest News on whats happening, visit one of the BBC websites:

www.bbc.couk/news

www.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews

(depending on your age)

Answer 28

Georgia was the aggressor because it bombed South Ossetia for couple of days, then as they were killing alot of Russian citizens in South Ossetia Russia told Georgia to stop, Georgia refused so Russia had to use RUSSIAN POWER!!! to stop Georgia, and since Georgia was in NATO, U.S supported them with all of the weapons and money also Ukraine gave  alot of weapons and tanks and so did other countries. Georgian military   grew in like 30 times but still it is no opponent to Russian Military. Alot of people say that aggression was planned long time ago and Russia wouldn't be surprised if the Georgia attacked after Washington's permission.  

Answer 29

georgia made massive bombing of tskhinvali in which 2000 ossetians died. after bombing they began massive rapid attack trying to occupy this city very quickly before troops from russia helps ossetians. but near this town were situated some russian peacemakers, they began defend ossetians and georgian occupation attempt failed.

russia just want to help ossetians in their war with georgians for independency. georgians and ossetians always didn't like each other.

historically ossetia did not belonged to georgia. It was united with georgia in 1922 by soviet authorities. they often united enemy populations to control them. in 1992 when soviet union crushed all soviet people got freedom, too much freedom. ossetians began war for independency and most part of ethnic georgians have gone from ossetia. to stop bloody fights between ossetians and georgians russians have to enter their troops to ossetia in 1992. since this year situation in ossetia was normal until georgia became friend of USA.

Answer 30

In fact Georgia begin the war

War Begin Chronology

2008-08-08

2:00 - Georgia started to bombing capital of South Osetia - Tskhinvali

Russian Inform about it Immediately and call Security Council UN, but unfortunately without result. (CNN and BBC are keep silent)

Towards 11 : 00 More than 1400 civilians and 12 Russian Peacekeepers killed by Georgian artillery. Tskhinvaly is under tanks and artillery fire.

Towards 12 : 00 Georgian troops enter to part of Tskhinvaly.

Towards 13 : 00 Russians peacekeeper forces enter to South Osetia through Rockskiy tunnel. Georgia threaten with war with Russia.

Towards 16 : 00 Russians peacekeeper forces enter to Tskhinvaly.

Georgian forces fall back.

Saakashvilly (also CNN and BBC) begin talk about Russian agression.

Answer 31

These are barbaric people. Each side is making balkan style accustations about the other. Georgias army is a tiny force compared to russia, so it would of been stupid for them to try and take on russia. Most of the bloody region has these break away states that want independance, mainly because they are all terrified of being oppresed again. And georgia wants to try and get into the EU, look at where it is on a map, its asia and not european.

Unfortunately the russians are not like a bunch of savage serbs. So sending in someone to challenge them will take some balls. Lets just hope we dont end up with the UN wishing it didnt stand there and watch genocide happen.

Just watch representatives from each country, they talk like children and blame the other for everything. Russia has a very good recent history of incompetance and causing disasterous situations all for the sake of maintaining their pride.