Russia vs Georgia

Somerville, Mass - This week, Russia and Georgia went to war. Hundreds of people have died (thousands, according to some sources); and everyone laments the dire humanitarian crisis that has resulted. Meanwhile, the US-Russian relationship has reached new lows.

Personally, I became aware of the increasing intensity of this situation only when I was unable to buy Georgian wine when I was in Russia. For several years the Russians have enforced a trade embargo against Georgia, closing off the primary market for the wine-producing country. Russians, of course, don't even notice the loss, because they now prefer French wine, but I was devastated!

Anyway, the point is that I am not an expert. But I do live with one! Here are a few observations about the crisis in the Caucasus (which you may have missed in the Western press):

1 - Very few people would confuse Georgia with a freedom-loving democracy. Yes, maybe President Bush would. But the reality, as always, is more complex.

Georgia got a lot of international attention back in 2004, when the so-called Rose Revolution overturned the old regime and brought freedom-fighting President Saakashvili to power. But since then, the young `democracy' has faced a few obstacles. On several different occasions, charges of corruption within the government led to widespread protests. The administration responded violently, which did not help matters much. In late 2007, the president had to declare a state of emergency and call early elections to appease the angry protesters.

And although he won handily, the election itself got mixed reviews from the opposition within Georgia, of course, but also from the OECD. The US responded with hearty congratulations to their friend Mr Saakashvili (Why question the results of a perfectly good election just because of a few missing ballots?)

We have read about how Georgia is keen to get into NATO, but its application was rejected - so far - due mainly to its checkered record with human rights violations and the ongoing conflict with the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Which brings us to point #2.

2 - Georgia started it. Not to be third-grade about it, but Georgia sent its troops into South Ossetia on August 7, firing on civilian targets and Russian peace-keeping troops.

For years, an uneasy truce has existed between Georgia and the separatists. South Ossetia and Abkhazia are technically part of Georgian territory, but they have been acting more or less autonomously since the mid-1990s. They both have large populations of ethnic Russians living there, and Russian peace-keeping forces ensure their autonomous status. Georgia resents this, of course. Saakashvili came to power vowing to regain control of the break-away provinces.

He can't do it on his own, though. Russia is bigger and badder than Georgia.

When Georgia sent its troops to support the US cause in Iraq, we gave them military training and weapons in return. Somehow, somewhere, Georgia got the idea that the US might support their attempt to reclaim control over South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Tensions have been building since the spring. In April, Georgia conducted reconnaissance missions into Abkhazia, and the Russians responded by shooting down one of the planes. More recently, separatists in South Ossetia have become more aggressive, launching small-scale attacks along the border.

Meanwhile, the US is standing by, promising to support Georgia's bid to join NATO. Which brings us to point #3.

3 - The Russians are pissed off at the US.

They are pissed about the US plan to install missile defense systems in Poland and the Czech Republic. (This is supposedly as protection against Iran, but nobody really believes that - certainly not Putin.)

They are pissed about the US recognition of an independent Kosovo (Kosovo used to be an autonomous region within the Serbian nation - a status very similar to that of South Ossetia and Abkhazia within the Georgian nation. If the US insists that Kosovo can be independent, why can't Russia insist the same for South Ossetia and Abkhazia?)

And they are pissed about the US meddling in Georgia. This last issue is one they can do something about, especially now that Georgia has given them an excuse. Which brings us to point #4.

4 - The cease-fire does not really settle anything. The Russians have agreed to pull their troops and tanks out of Georgia, but they did not agree to leave the so-called autonomous regions. In fact, the Russians have implied that they will not allow a return to the status quo. As far as they are concerned, Georgia lost its territorial claim over these regions when it launched an attack on the citizens of South Ossetia on August 7.

Meanwhile, Saakashvili has not softened his stance, claiming they belong to Georgia and intending to assert Georgian control.

5 - And what of the US interest in all of this? Why are we so pro-Georgia anyway?

Sure, we want to assert our influence in the former Soviet bloc. Sure, we want to promote democracy in the Caucasus. But what do we really want? We want to protect the pipelines that run through Georgia, allowing us to bypass Russia and gain direct access to oil and gas from the Caspian region.

As far as I can tell, there are no good guys in this conflict. Not Russia, and not Georgia. And certainly not the US.  

Now, instead of getting distraught over the state of affairs, let me get back to writing restaurant reviews. At least I know where you can still get great Georgian food in Moscow...