Causes Of Five Day War In 2008

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Introduction

In August of 2008, Georgia launched a full-scale military attack against South Ossetian region in an attempt to recover the lost territory. Georgia claimed they were responding to attacks on its peacekeepers in the villages of South Ossetia, and that Russia was advancing non-peacekeeping units in the territory. Russia Retaliated with an army and Airborne troops.

Russian side claims that these actions were necessary humanitarian intervention for peace enforcement. Russian, Ossetian and Abkhazian forces launched full scale assault on Georgian forces. After five days of heavy fighting, Georgian forces withdrew which allowed Russians to occupy the major Georgian cities. After the ceasefire, Russia pulled out its troops from Georgia while establishing major buffer zones around Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russian forces remain posted in Abkhazia and South Ossetia under bilateral arrangements with the breakaway regions. The five day war was a true test for Georgia. This showed the country that taking back the breakaway regions and returning the thousands of internally displaced Georgians to their homes had become almost impossible. This war has long term effects on Georgia-Russia relations.

In this paper I look into the enduring ethnic divisions within Georgia; not only with Abkhazia and South Ossetia but the historical divisions between the regions and how these divisions have contributed into a divided mentality in the country. The age old ethnic and territorial divisions, the fall of the Soviet Union and Russia’s constant interference in Georgia, will be researched as possible causes if continuous conflict between these groups. Russia’s interference before and during the Soviet Union will be mentioned, for it holds great influence when it comes down to the relationship these ethnic groups have, and the territorial disputes that came from it. The war during 1991-1992 between Georgia and South Ossetia will be mentioned. It is very clear that the ethnic divisions which were not so obvious in the beginning became more prominent during the Russian occupation and "the divide and conquer" method that Russians used to influence Georgia has had long term effects on the region. Finally, the main question, what caused the war during the august of 2008 will be answered. This paper provides the analysis of these historical events and draws the conclusion that the war was caused by the long standing ethnic and territorial tensions and Russia’s strong personal interests in the region. The history of Georgia and its breakaway regions is a result complex mix of events. This conflict and its reasons are a very good example of how ethnic divisions and interference of an outside force with economic and territorial interests influences the future of an entire region.

Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia

When Georgia emerged from legend into history it did as three possible entities. Iberia was the core of the future unified state, Colchis the black sea coast region and the third was Svanetia in the north. While the Iberian region remained as the center of Georgia and Svanetia part of Georgia but also separate entity, the Colchis region was a very interesting place for territorial and ethnic change. For long periods of Georgian history Abkhazia has been part of Georgia and Ossetians who live in Transcaucasia have been also subjects of Georgia. A history of Georgia therefore has been history of Abkhazia and Ossetia for more many hundreds of years.

Abkhazian territory has a long and rich history, starting as a part of Colchis and later of Egrisi kingdom. The Egrisi kingdom until the late 690CE was under the Byzantine authority and the country was mostly Christian. Abkhazia became the dominant power in the region and the kingdom of Abkhazia was established. During this period Georgian language replaced Greek language as a sign of literacy and culture. The kingdom was so strong during the 9the and 10th centuries it annexed parts of Eastern Georgia, including Tbilisi. During the late 10th to early 11th century Bagrat III of Abkhazian and Georgian royalty, unified all Georgia. In the 16th century the breakup of the Georgian kingdom created multiple smaller kingdoms or principalities, one of them being Abkhazia. While multiple invasions and domestic conflicts between royals and their territories continued, and The Ottomans occupied the Sokhumi fort, with Abkhazia being ruled by Shervashidze family. The Ottoman rule influenced Abkhazia and commenced the conversion of the populace to Islam. The region retained a degree of autonomy under the Ottoman rule, afterwards due to the mountainous terrain, but it was eventually absorbed into Russian Empire in 1864 like the rest of Georgia. The demographics of Abkhazia is very much ethnically diverse. Before the 1992-1993 war, the population was made up of Abkhaz, Georgians, Armenians and Russians. The majority of population was Georgian in the region. After the war hundreds of thousand Georgians were expelled from their homes. The ethnic composition of Abkhazia and the Russian involvement in the war played a central role in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict.

The Ossetians came from Alan tribe which had migrated to the Caucasus Mountains into the kingdom of Georgia where the Ossetians found refuge and life in the historical Georgian principalities and the region of North Ossetia. North Ossetia became under the Rule of Russian from 1767 and later in the modern day history as a federal subject of Russia. The Georgian territories where South Ossetians settled contained the native majority Georgian population. The territory of modern-day South Ossetia was also absorbed by the Russian Empire in 1801 just like the Abkhazian territory and rest of Georgia previously.

It is important to mention the feudalistic system that influenced many tribal, ethnic and territorial disputes and conflicts. When people discuss Georgia they think of the two breakaway regions, but the country has many other territories like Kakhetia, Svanetia, Imeretia and others that had their own princes and lords presiding. These territories could be compared to mini tribal/clannish states which only few times were able to be unified. Too many invasions and conquests by Persians, Arabs, Mongols, Turks and finally Russians kept Georgia divided. The domestic territorial squabbles between these royal rulers, who in fact were all interconnected by family blood, enabled the mentality of unified Georgia to be squandered. Thus when the Russian Empire came to annex Georgia in 1801 the work was bloody, but also focused. The kingdom of Georgia at this point pertained to the regions of Kakhetia and Kartli, all the while the rest of the territories (Kingdoms) thought they were relatively safe. Of course, annexation of western part of Georgia of Kingdom of Imeretia commenced the following year. Afterwards other territories such as Abkhazia, Adjara, Guria, Mingrelia and Svanetia were annexed until the entirety of Georgia became part of the Russian Empire. The strength of the Russian Empire is very much undisputed during this time period, but the division in Georgia during this time made it much easier for Russia to annex the territories. Unity could have saved the country more time to accumulate enough strength to fight back, but alas that did not happen.

Part III:2

Soviet Union

After the Revolution: Territories and Population

Russia’s Position regarding these regions (Abkhazia, Ossetia)

Part IV: 2

Fall of the Soviet Union and Independence

Civil War.

Abkhazian War

Territorial Problems

While the North Ossetia became part of the Soviet republic after the Russian Revolutions, South Ossetia became part of the Menshevik Georgian Democratic Republic. The Georgian Menshevik government accused the Ossetians of cooperating with Russian Bolsheviks which caused a series of Ossetian rebellions, during which claims to achieve an independent territory were made.