Georgia accuses Russia of cutting rail line, starting fires

TBILISI, Georgia (CNN) — Georgia accused the Russian army of destroying a key railway bridge Saturday and starting massive fires in the scenic Borjomi Gorge, in violation of a new cease-fire agreement between the two countries.

A senior Russian military official denied the allegation.

Georgia’s Foreign Ministry also said Saturday that Russian-backed militia members have seized control of 13 Georgian villages and a power plant bordering the region.

UNHCR secures safe passage for Georgians fearing further fighting

GENEVA, August 15 (UNHCR) – More than 700 frightened residents of the remote Khodori Valley in Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region have been escorted to safety in a two-day operation mounted by UN refugee agency staff. This comes as UNHCR airlifts over 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Georgia.

Hundreds of Georgian civilians earlier this week requested UNHCR’s help after fleeing over the past weekend from their homes in the Khodori Valley to Tchuberi village, some 80 km north of Zugdidi town in western Georgia.

Administrative Border of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia is Shifted

On 16 August 2008 at approximately 4 p.m. local time, armed gangs of the Abkhazian separatist regime together with units of the Russian regular army shifted the administrative border of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia towards the Enguri River. This caused the villages of the Zugdidi region Ganmukhuri and Khurcha, villages of the Tsalenjikha region Fakhulani, Tchale, Mujava and Fotskho-Etseri, as well as territory of the Enguri Hydro Power Plant and adjacent villages of Phichori, Otobaia, Nabakevi, Tagiloni, Chuburkhinji, Dikhazurga and Saberio to fall under the occupation of the Russian army and armed gangs of the Abkhazian separatist regime. In those villages Abkhazian separatist government set up temporary administration.

George Bush – Georgia’s Borders Deserve to be Honored and Discussion on this Issue is Excluded

The Security Council of USA submitted a report regarding the developments in Georgia to George Bush, the President of USA. Afterwards George Bush made a statement. The president of USA thanked Condoleezza Rice, the Secretary of State for her bits in resolution of the conflict who visited France and Georgia apropos the above- mentioned issue.

‘Mikheil Saakashvili signed the 6 point plan, which was brokered by the EU, respectively by Nicolas Sarkozy. President Medvedev has signed the truce as well. It is a promising step. Russia is to meet the points of the agreement and end military operations in Georgia.’ –The president of USA stated.
As George Bush stated Condoleezza Rice will arrive in Brussels in next days where she will meet the representatives of the EU in order peace to be restored in Georgia.

‘The main point is the position of Russia. South Ossetia and Abkhazia are
the indivisible parts of Georgia. This issue could not be the subject of discussion no longer. The international community underscores it already for many times. The borders of Georgia deserve to be honored as any other borders of any other countries.’ –George Bush remarked.

Bridge over Kaspi –Metekhi Railway Main Line is Mined

The bridge over Metekhi – Kaspi railway main line is mined. The staff of the railway station noticed the following right now.

On the railway line 13 boxes of explosive cartridge Triton have been found, 11 from them were placed under the bridge.

The special team will begin to work on the place of incident in next hours.

Early today, on 16 August 2008, troops of the Russian occupation army carried out another subversive-terrorist act – they mined and exploded the Metekhi-Grakali span of the railway bridge in the Kaspi district, which resulted in the severing of railway links between the east and west of Georgia.

Russians plunder military bases in Senaki, Poti

Russians are plundering whole Region of Samegrelo, Georgia before their departure from the areas of the country beyond the conflict zone of Abkhazia. Soldiers of Russian regular army have completely plundered Senaki military base and taken away all they could place on their vehicles and the military vehicles of Georgian defense ministry as well. Russian soldiers are stealing dishes, furniture, household appliances, blankets, computers, power generators, radiators and even toilet units. What they cannot take away with them they are destroying. The whole bases in Senaki as well as Poti coastal guards have been destroyed.

Q & A: Violence in South Ossetia

1. What’s going on in South Ossetia?
2. What’s the background to the latest round of fighting?
3. Is this an internal or international armed conflict? What law governs it?
4. What is a lawful target under international humanitarian law?
5. What precautions must be taken in carrying out military attacks?
6. Are peacekeepers combatants or civilians?
7. Are parties entitled to target infrastructure such as airports, roads, bridges and power stations?
8. What are the parties’ obligations regarding the use of civilian areas for military activities?
9. What is meant by using human shields?
10. Can parties to the conflict attack radio and television stations?
11. Should belligerent parties give warnings to civilians in advance of attacks? What constitutes an “effective” warning?
12. What is meant by “collective punishment” of the civilian population?
13. What are the parties’ obligations to agencies seeking to provide humanitarian assistance?
14. Are attacks on humanitarian convoys unlawful?
15. What are the obligations under international humanitarian law of Russian forces while they exercise effective control over areas in South Ossetia, Abkhazia or other parts of Georgia?
16. To what extent does international human rights law apply?
17. What laws govern the treatment of the dead?
18. Must parties to a conflict provide humanitarian organizations access to prisoners-of-war and other detainees?

August 15, 2008

1. What’s going on in South Ossetia?

Violence has escalated in South Ossetia, a breakaway province of Georgia and one of the “frozen conflicts” of the former Soviet Union. The conflict heated up dramatically in the early morning of August 8, 2008. Georgia declared that it intended to restore constitutional order and launched a large-scale military offensive. Russia sent additional troops to South Ossetia, saying they were reinforcements to Russian peacekeepers who are in the area to monitor a 1992 ceasefire between Georgian and South Ossetian forces.
The following questions and answers set out basic elements of international humanitarian law (the laws of war) governing recent and potential military actions by Russian, Georgian and Ossetian forces in South Ossetia. Human Rights Watch has yet to conclude an on-the-ground investigation of the fighting. Our purpose is to provide analytic guidance on the law for those who are examining the conflict, and to encourage legal compliance by the parties to the conflict as well as those with the capacity to influence them.

Russian occupation army mined and exploded the railway bridge

Despite the international community’s efforts and the signing of documents on cessation of hostilities, the Russian Federation’s armed forces continue military actions against Georgia, destroying civilian infrastructure.

On 16 August 2008 troops of the Russian occupation army mined and exploded the Metekhi-Grakali span of the railway bridge in the Kaspi district. This subversive-terrorist act resulted in the severing of railway links between the east and west of Georgia and cut connections with Georgia’s seaports. Moreover, this very bridge used to provide a route for refugees from the Russian-occupied territories into safe places.

Timeline by 16th of August 14:50

14:40 Numerous fires have been noticed in the town of Kaspi and surrounding villages after Russian aviation dropped fire setting engines in the area.

14:40 Russian paramilitaries (so called Cossacks) have entered the town of Kharagauli 50 Km from Kutaisi.

14:30 Eight units of Russian armored troops have started movement from Khashuri district towards the town of Sachkhere.

13:20 Russian troops have started moving from Igoeti, Kaspi district towards Gori.

Russian president signs Georgia cease-fire deal

MOSCOW – The Kremlin says Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed the plan for a cease-fire in Georgia.

The move comes a day after Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili signed the plan that calls for Russian troops to pull back, but that also grants them limited patrols inside Georgia.

Medvedev spokesman Alexei Pavlov says the president signed the order Saturday, but did not give further details.

The plan appears to leave some tense issues open to interpretation. They include whether Georgia will be able to send troops back into parts of South Ossetia, the separatist republic where massive fighting erupted last week.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Released Timeline of 16th of August, 10:00am

The ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia released timeline of 16 th of August 10:00 am. Provided data is operational and may be subject to verification.

‘Timeline by 16th of August 10:00
16 August
08:47 – The battalion has stopped in the village Karaleti. The group is composed of lots of armored personnel carriers, tanks, army trucks and engineer unit. The staff meeting is taking place. The general joined later arriving by helicopter.
08:26 – General Alarm was declared in 71st Tank Battalion of the Russian army, stationed in Tskhinvali. The Battalion is now heading towards Gori. As of now, they are in the village of Karaleti.
00:30 The cases of looting and abuse of local civilians committed by separatists in Russian occupied villages of Abisi, Koda, Ptsa – Kareli district have been reported.

Urmas Paet – Relation between NATO and Russia Could not be Same as before

The relation between NATO and Russia could not be the same as before, since the developments in Georgia do not go with the 21st century.

Urmas Paet, the minister of Foreign affairs of Estonia, stated the following after his meeting with Eka Tkeshelashvili, the minister of Foreign affairs of Georgia.

According to Urmas Paet, Russia’s aggression against Georgia was unjustified and abrogated the international principles.

Urmas Paet expressed deep concerns about the fact that Russia has not withdrawn its troops from the territory of Georgia yet.

The minister underlined the fact that Estonia backs actively the issue concerning Georgia and Ukraine’s receiving MAP.

Urmas Paet remarket that Estonia is ready to send humanitarian assistance to Georgia.

The minister of Foreign affairs of Estonia arrived in Tbilisi yesterday.

Russian military troops keep on looting

Russian military troops keep on looting military base of Senaki and Poti port, destroying property of the Georgian side.

Russians militants totally destroyed Georgian infrastructure of military base of Senaki and port of coastal guard.

Russian occupants are loading “Urali” cars with loot; among loot are military techniques, computers, furniture, even mattresses, scrap-iron and other things, and transferring it to Abkhazia.

Eka Tkeshelashvili – Today we’ll see how Russia Begins Withdrawal of its Troops from Georgian territory

Today we’ll see how Russia carries out the obligations under the cease-fire agreement, in particular the withdrawal of its troops from Georgian territory.
This declaration was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs Eka Tkeshelashvili after the meeting with Estonian colleague.
According to her statement there is no operative information whether withdrawal of Russian troops are noticeable from Georgian territory.
‘The withdrawal should be carried out in a short-term period, as long as the fact about the rapid invasion of Russian military units and armament into Georgian territory witnesses that it is technically possible to withdraw the troops from Georgian territory in a short-term period’ – remarked the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

Emergent: Russian Occupants are stationed in Forests of Imereti

Today, at daybreak, 2 military vehicles of Russian units entered the village of Khevi, Kharagauli region.
As the locals reported InterpressNews, militants entered the village and then disappeared.
Militants got in contact neither with the patrol police stationed in the village and nor with the locals. They inspect the roads and disappear in the forests for a long time.
The locals fear that Russian invaders either mine the territory or set to fire .At the moment the situation is stable in the village. The village –Khevi is situated to the west of Rukoty pass

Russians Appeared in Khashuri and Surami

According to the eye-witnesses’ reports to the InterpressNews, Russian tanks invaded Khashuri and village Surami.

As in Senaki, Poti and Zugdidi, Russian troops are not disturbing local population although their presence puts the residents into panic.

The administrative units and police of Khashuri and Surami are working in a regular way.

Russian Air Jets again Appeared above Poti

Russian air jets again appeared above Poti According to the correspondent of InterpressNews three air jets flied over the port after what they probably directed towards Senaki.
No bombing or other kind of sabotage took place this time.