Blogging From Gori

August 18, 2008

RFE/RL special correspondent Goga Aptsiauri is one of only a handful of journalists to have been reporting from the town of Gori, in central Georgia, throughout its seizure by Russian forces.

He’s found:

• Gori’s bishop says there are fewer Russian troops and checkpoints in the surrounding villages, but the situation in Gori is largely the same
• No more journalists have entered Gori since some international reporters accompanied by Russian special forces came and left in the afternoon
• A local official estimates there are about three times the number of inhabitants of two or three days ago, when about 10 percent of Gori’s 50,000 people remained
• Gori residents are finally able to watch Georgian TV, and not only Russian state TV

David Miliband – Actions of Russia during Last 10 years were Abrogation of International Principles

David Miliband, the foreign minister of Great Britain declared that the actions of Russia during the last 10 years were the abrogation of the international principles.

David Miliband stated the following in the joint press conference held after his meeting with Mikheil Saakashvili.

The British diplomat underlined the British people backs Georgia. As the foreign minister stated he reported Mikheil Saakashvili over the meeting of NATO Ministerial held today.

The Mikheil Saakashvili thanked the EU and the foreign minister for support.

Kouchner: World should not return to the state of Cold War

”Russia planned to invade Georgian capital if not the intensive intervention of the European Union into the conflict,” – Foreign Minister of France Bernard Kouchner announced at the news conference held after the NATO ministerial in Brussels today.

Kouchner answered the questions of journalists after the Secretary General of the Alliance and the U.S. Secretary of State. They all condemned Russian aggression and warned the aggressor.

Kouchner said French president had daily contacts with Medvedev and tries to defuse the tension. Russian must keep its word and pull its forces out of Georgian territories.

”This is necessary and international society categorically demands Russian pullout. The world should not get back to the state of Cold War,” Kouchner announced.

OSCE to send 100 military monitors to S.Ossetia

Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, who currently holds the OSCE chairmanship, said the plan calls for the observers to be sent immediately to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. Georgia still must approve the plan.

The organization already has nine observers based in South Ossetia, as part of its 200-member mission in Georgia. But it wants eventually to have 100 military monitors to help oversee a cease-fire in the Georgian conflict zone, Stubb said.

“We need to open the door to get the military monitors in now,” he said. Stubb was also attending the NATO meeting, though Finland is not a member of the alliance.

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia

Russian Armed Forces Moved into Satchkhere

On August 19, 2008 Russian several armored vehicles of the Russian armed forces moved into Satchkhere, and attempted to enter the military base located there. They were turned back by Georgian police, which blocked the road with the patrol cars. Before leaving the territory Russian soldiers threatened that they would return with more vehicles and troops in order to destroy the military base. According to our information, reinforced Russian troops and military technique is currently moving towards the Satchkhere military base, which is located beyond the conflict zones, in the Western part of Georgia.

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia

Russian Federation is using military means at hand to enclose Georgia with economic blockade

As a result of Russian aggression against Georgia, the main highway of Georgia (M-27) is kept closed by the occupation forces of the Russian Federation since several days. They also have blocked the seaport in Poti and blasted the segment of the main railway line at Kaspi. This measure is aimed at economic isolation of Georgia and impeding connection between its regions. The transit traffic is temporarily halted and the import limited, as a result of which innocent population suffers.

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia

on the Ethnic Cleansing Conducted on the Russian-occupied Territories

We would like to focus the international community’s attention on the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding on the territories occupied by the Russian armed forces.
There has been no decline in ethnically based mass robbery, persecution and slaughter of people on the Russian-occupied territories. As a consequence, ethnic Georgians are forced to flee their homes and seek shelter in the cities under the control of the Georgian Authorities. An added complication is the fact that Russian servicemen deny representatives of the international humanitarian organizations and mass media access to the territories still remaining under their control.
Apart from servicemen, urgent involvement of subdivisions of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations in the ethnic cleansing process provides evidence that we are faced with a crime that has been planned previously and then carried out in keeping with this plan. One of the goals of the Russian-claimed ‘peace operation’ was to make hostage over 200 thousand ethnic Georgians.
Moscow has decisively chosen ethnic cleansing as an instrument for achieving its own political aims.
Tbilisi, 19 August 2008

NATO’s foreign ministers reiterate their support to Georgia

The North Atlantic Council (NAC) met in a special Foreign Ministerial session on 19 August 2008 to discuss the situation in Georgia and its implications for Euro-Atlantic stability and security.
Both the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on behalf of the EU Presidency briefed the NAC on the diplomatic efforts undertaken so far.

The NAC welcomed the agreement signed by Georgia and Russia to end the hostilities and bring about a political solution to the conflict, but stressed the urgency of swift and complete implementation of the agreement.

Russian soldiers take prisoners in Georgia port

By BELA SZANDELSZKY, Associated Press Writer

POTI, Georgia – Russian soldiers took about 20 Georgian troops prisoner at a key Black Sea port in western Georgia on Tuesday, blindfolding them and holding them at gunpoint, and commandeered American Humvees awaiting shipment back to the United States.

The move came as a small column of Russian tanks and armored vehicles left the strategic Georgian city of Gori in the first sign of a Russian pullback of troops from Georgia after a cease-fire intended to end fighting that reignited Cold War tensions. The two countries on Tuesday also exchanged prisoners captured during their brief war.

NATO ministerial discussed Georgian-Russian conflict

The ministerial of the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) discussed the current Georgian-Russian conflict related issues in Brussels, Belgium, this afternoon.

“Relations between NATO and Russia will no longer be the same as before after the developments in Georgia,” Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO Secretary-General stated after the meeting.

The NATO Secretary General also voiced another decision made by the ministerial. He said, Georgia-NATO consultation commission would be formed, which would work on prospects of Georgia’s integration into the alliance.

The NATO Foreign Ministers reiterated support to Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Scheffer said Georgia was an independent country with an independent nation.

Russians rob Poti terminal

Russian soldiers have robbed Poti Terminal. They took away humanitarian aid designated for IDPs and vehicles imported from abroad.

They have also taken away Georgian soldiers whom they arrested earlier today. With their eyes bound, Georgians were arguably taken towards Zugdidi. The tanks loaded with humanitarian aid have also left the territory of the terminal.

Russian troops remain stationed in Samegrelo region

The Russian occupant army remains stationed in Georgia’s Samegrelo region for the time being. Military forces and vehicles are keeping positions in Zugdidi, Senaki Military Base and in the vicinity of Teklati.

Russian militants have looted the building of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti regional police. The Zugdidi Presidential Residence is also reported robbed.

Despite the pledge of Dmitry Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation, Russian troops are still stationed in Georgia, and there is no sign that they are going to leave the territory today.
Medvedev made the withdrawal pledge on Sunday, in a telephone call to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who brokered last week’s ceasefire. Medvedev promised to abide by the terms of a ceasefire brokered to end a week of fighting in Georgia and South Ossetia.

The West has urged Moscow to pull out, and France said it would call a special EU summit if Russia did not comply.

NATO to meet over Russia-Georgia crisis

(CNN) — Foreign ministers from NATO members are gathering in Belgium for a Tuesday emergency meeting over the crisis between Russia and Georgia which will also involve U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

A deadline for Russian troops to withdraw from Georgia has come and gone, leaving NATO frustrated and worried.

Rice arrived at NATO headquarters Tuesday a day after saying that Moscow was playing “a dangerous game” by re-asserting its power across the border.

NATO ministers are expected to discuss what the alliance can do to support Georgia and “deny Russia’s strategic objectives,” Rice said.

Explosion Occurred in Port of Poti a few Minutes Ago

Explosion occurred a few minutes ago in the port of Poti. As the Russian militants have forbidden journalists to enter the territory, it is unknown what has been blown off. The situation got tensed in the port of Poti since today morning as Russian occupants emerged there. As the reporter of the InterpressNews reports, occupants captivated Georgian militants who were in the port.

Situation is Extremely Tensed in Poti

The situation got extremely tensed in the second region of the port of Poti at the moment. Russian militants have been there since today morning.4 BTR tanks are stationed in the vicinity.

As the reported of the InterpressNews reports, occupants captivated Georgian militants who were in the port. Russian invaderes threaten the journalists with opening fire if they approch the vicinity.

Condoleezza Rice – Russian Strategic Aviation Attacked even

Russia plays a dangerous game. Reuter reports regarding this.

As Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State stated, Russia’s actions are related to weaken democracy and to intimidate the population.

As Condoleezza Rice said the main subject of discussion at the NATO ministerial in Brussels will be to persuade Dimitri Medvedev, the President of the Russian Federation to meet the commitments of the truce.

‘I think France will demand from Russia to explain why Russia’s President can not keep his word.’ – Condoleezza Rice remarked.

As Condoleezza Rice underscored, Russian strategic aviation tried to attack
even the borders of USA .The US Secretary of State said that it is a dangerous game.

White House Calls Russia once again to Withdraw its Troops from

The White House calls Russia once again to withdraw its troops from the territory of Georgia. Gordon Jondro, the White House spokesman stated the following.

The spokesman underscored the fact that Dimitri Medvedev, the President of the Russian Federation, signed the cease-fire agreement on Saturday.

‘George Bush stated that Russia should keep the agreement and end its military operations in Georgia and withdraw its troops .We go on monitoring of the Russian aggression. Moscow must meet its commitments.’ – Gordon Jondro declared.