South Ossetia War 2008

On August 7, 2008, Georgia sent troops into South Ossetia to attempt to stop fighting with separatists that began on August 1. Russia sent in troops to defend South Ossetia. On August 9, the Georgian government announced a "state of war."¹ After days of fighting, on August 12, 2008, Georgia and Russia agreed to a cease fire agreement. The European Union said it will send peacekeeping troops to monitor the cease-fire. On August 22, 2008, Russia claimed it had withdrawn its troops from Georgian territory, except for troops that would stay in "security zones" of Georgia. United States, France and Britain said the withdrawal was not complete.²

Fast Facts:

1. Key players: Russia, Georgia and South Ossetia
2. South Ossetia is located in northern central Georgia on the border of Georgia and Russia
3. Fighting escalated between Georgia and South Ossetia separatists in early August 2008³
4. Georgian government announced a "state of war" on August 9, 2008¹
5. Georgian forces withdrew from the South Ossetia capital on August 10, 2008, but remained in the region
6. State of war is not a declaration of war, but it gives the Georgian president additional powers including travel and curfew regulation¹
7. August 12, 2008: Russia and Georgia signed a cease-fire agreement

History and Background

South Ossetia is a region that is technically part of the Republic of Georgia, but has been functioning autonomously, and even has its own president, since a war with Georgia ended in the early 1990s. The population of South Ossetia is about 70,000. Georgia claims that it is defending its citizens from attacks launched by South Ossetia and that it has the right to bring the region back under its control. Russia clams that since half of the citizens in South Ossetia have Russian passports, it has the right to step in and defend its citizens.

Fighting

In early August of 2008, tensions escalated between Georgian forces and South Ossetian separatists. Georgian troops invaded the South Ossetian captial city Tskhinvali. Russia then moved tanks into Georgia, claiming it was protecting South Ossetian separatists from Georgian attacks.³ On August 12, 2008, Georgia agreed to a cease fire agreement brokered by the Russians and the French. The six-point plan, outlined by Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and French president Nicolas Sarkozy, dictates that both Russia and Georgia will return their troops to pre-war positions. In addition, the agreement calls for both the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions to determine their own independence.⁴

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