Essay - Georgia-russia Crisis - an Overview Background Facts Georgia Gained Independence...

Georgia-Russia Crisis - An Overview

***** Facts

Georgia gained independence from the Soviet Union when the U.S.S. R. broke up at the end of 1991. Georgia was racked by the economic and social collapse that affected ***** states ***** the former Soviet ***** as they attempted to restore capitalism. (Jones, 2008)

***** national minorities, in particular, the ethnic Russians in Georgia, and gro*****s such ***** the Ossetians, had always been more pro-Russian than pro-Georgian ***** began to get concerned for their own position. Pro-Russian movements were deliberately propagated to undermine the Georgian government—sometimes by the Russian state. Unhappy with the lack of economic progress, o*****r sections ***** the ruling elite moved against *****n President Gamsakhurdia.

***** resigned and the army divided into pro- ***** anti- Gamsakhurdia factions. No one really understands, today, what the the differences ***** within the ***** government. (*****, 2008)

Brutal clashes developed in 1991-1992 between forces loyal to Tskhinvali, the South Ossetia capital, and Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, and left one thousand dead before Russia brokered ***** Sochi Agreement in June 1992. Eduard Shevardnadze, long-time head of the Georgian communist party and former Soviet foreign minister, was appointed acting chairman of the new "state council" in 1992, then elected to a *****d presidency in 1995. Shevardnadze's rule brought a degree of st*****bilization, but increasing internal political instability with poor economic growth, high crime and corruption all ***** which culminated in the bloodless November 2003 "Rose Revolution." After flawed parliamentary elections in November, the opposition mobilized mass protests and ousted Shevardnadze. (International crisis group (conflict), 2008)

Western-supported, and Columbia University-educated, ***** Mikhail Saakashvili ***** elected January 2004 with 96 per cent of vote. Saakashvili vowed to res*****re Abkhazia ***** South ***** back under the control of Tbilisi. In 2007 Georgia proposed changes to the Sochi peace agreement which would replace ***** existing negotiation commission and the established provisional administration in *****n-controlled areas of the conflict zone. ***** and ***** Ossetia rejected ***** proposal ***** negotiations broke off. (***** crisis group (conflict), 2008)

Hav*****g come to power ***** the open backing of the U.S., Saakashvili clearly allied his government with the defense of U.S. interests. Georgia applied to NATO, troops were sent to Iraq, and the main road from Tbilisi's airport was renamed "George Bush Street." (Jones, *****)

As long has Shevardnadze ***** been in power in Georgia, Russia *****ta*****ed its influence over the country. Now, in order ***** maintain it, Russia stepped up *****s use of a political weapon—divide and rule. The leaders of the breakaway republics—South Ossetia, Abkazia, and Adjara— ***** encouraged to strengthen their borders with Georgia to prevent "internal Georgian disruption spilling *****." South ***** decided ***** breakaway from Georgia ***** ally itself with Russia. Georgia saw this as a threat and incre*****ed ***** ***** ***** the increasing ***** economic and political presence in ***** region, ***** against the "uncontrolled" military ***** South Ossetia. (Jones, 2008)

***** Beginnings of a Crisis

November, 2006. ***** Ossetia organized a referendum to *****sk its people if *****y "agree