Latest Articles about Georgia
ALTERNATIVE SOUTH OSSETIAN LEADER INAUGURATED
On December 1 Dmitry Sanakoyev was inaugurated as alternative South Ossetian leader and announced the formation of an alternative local administration in Georgian and mixed Ossetian-Georgian areas of South Ossetia. Sanakoyev and his Union for the National Salvation of Ossetians (UNSO) enjoy support also in... MORE
INTRANSIGENCE IN MOSCOW, SUKHUMI, TSKHINVALI AFTER UN RESOLUTION AND OKRUASHVILI RESIGNATION
Western approval of the UN Security Council’s October 13 resolution criticizing Georgia’s return to the upper Kodori Valley, and the November 7 resignation of Irakli Okruashvili as Georgia’s defense minister, are not thus far proving conducive to the stated goals of those moves. The goals... MORE
PRO-OSSETIAN AUTHORITIES EMERGING IN SOUTH OSSETIA
The Tbilisi-backed Union for National Salvation of Ossetians (UNSO) conducted its own referendum and presidential election in South Ossetia on November 12, as an alternative to the referendum and election conducted that day by the Moscow-installed authorities (see EDM, November 15). Residents of villages with... MORE
MOSCOW’S FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER SOUTH OSSETIA’S REFERENDUM
On November 12 the Russian-installed authorities in South Ossetia held a referendum and “presidential” election in the portions of territory under their control. The balloting returned the de facto president, Eduard Kokoiti, to office for another term and produced a “yes” answer to the question:... MORE
GAZPROM’S “PURE COMMERCE” IN GEORGIA
Gazprom’s deputy chairman and head of Gazexport, Alexander Medvedev, confirmed on November 7 the price hike to $230 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas to Georgia in 2007, up from $110 in 2006. Gazprom will stop deliveries to Georgia on January 1, 2007, unless the... MORE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE STRATEGIC KARS-AKHALKALAKI RAILWAY TO START IN 2007
For almost a year, officials from Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey have been engaged in intense discussions about ways to finance the construction of the strategic Kars-Akhalkalaki railway system. This rail link will bridge the gap between the Georgian and Turkish rail networks, permitting an uninterrupted... MORE
TBILISI BRACES FOR FALLOUT FROM RUSSIAN SANCTIONS
On October 23 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Russia “is not planning” to restore air, land, sea, postal, and banking communications with Georgia, which were cut October 3 in connection with a spy scandal (RIA-Novosti, October 23; EDM October 2, 4). Russia also... MORE
PUTIN’S LOGIC ON GEORGIA AND THE FROZEN CONFLICTS
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s remarks during the European Union-Russia informal summit in Lahti, Finland, on October 20 underscored some major theses -- often confusing to the West -- behind Russia’s policy toward Georgia and the frozen conflicts. The summit was held against the backdrop of... MORE
TBILISI CLAIMS RUSSIAN NAVY HOLDING EXERCISES OFF GEORGIAN COAST
In an October 18 news conference, Georgia’s First Deputy Defense Minister Mamuka Kudava and Coastal Guard commander Davit Gulua announced that Russian warships are conducting live-fire exercises of an intimidating nature off Georgia’s coast, mainly off Poti. The Russian ships are exercising mainly in the... MORE
LATEST MOVES CHALLENGE SAAKASHVILI’S STANCE AND THE GEORGIAN-WESTERN PARTNERSHIP
The chances of Georgia becoming a full-fledged member of the European Union and NATO have taken a hit from Tbilisi’s ongoing dispute with Moscow. As the West alternates between political and moral support for President Mikheil Saakashvili and cutting deals with Russia that are detrimental... MORE