Why is Russia at war with Georgia? What started the violence?

Question

Why is Russia at war with Georgia? What started the violence?

Answer 1

The South Caucasus has always been a volatile and unstable region riven by ethnic conflict and instability. This has especially been the case since the breakup of the Soviet Union and not least because the region is often considered the gateway between Europe and Central Asia, as well as where the competing interests of the West and Russia collide.

Answer 2

Georgia's independence i believe.

It's basically the Russia-Chechnya thing all over again.

Answer 3

who cares

Answer 4

South Ossetia broke from Georgia in the early 1990s. It has since been a constant source of friction between Georgia and Russia, which disputes Tbilisi's hopes of joining NATO.

South Ossetia has long sought unification with North Ossetia, which is inhabited by the same Ossetian ethnic group but ended up across the border in Russia after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

The Georgian government, led by President Mikheil Saakashvili, announced it would withdraw its 2,000 troops that are part of the US-led coalition in Iraq to help the fight in South Ossetia.

The EU presidency said it was in contact with all protagonists and working to secure a ceasefire "so as to avoid an extension of the conflict."

The EU "calls on all parties to cease hostilities and to resume, without delay, so as to secure a political solution to the crisis, which respects Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," it said.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has been busy on the phone talking with, among others, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Georgia's Foreign Minister Ekaterine Tkeshelashvili, a spokeswoman said.

At the United Nations, however, the Security Council failed to agree Friday on a statement calling for an immediate truce in South Ossetia. The 15-member body was scheduled to try again on Saturday.

Diplomats said a Belgian-drafted compromise text also urges the warring sides to "show restraint and to refrain from any further acts of violence or force," calls for respect by the parties of past accords and for the provision of humanitarian aid to victims.

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin insisted on the need for Georgia to agree to a formal renunciation of the use of force by either side.

Georgia's reintegration minister, Temur Yakobashvili, told France's Le Figaro newspaper's website that Western diplomats would have a huge say over the outcome of the conflict.

Asked what will happen next in the Caucasus, he said, "much will depend on the reaction of the West."  

Answer 5

Georgia attacked them.

1st one to answer gets free 10 points

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 6

would you be shocked to learn that there is an oil pipe-line that runs right through that particular region of Georgia? Would you also be shocked to learn that it's very important to US interests?

Well, there just happens to be such a pipe-line.

Predictable, isn't it?