European Forum

Tensions rise in Caucasus after accusations of provocations between Georgia and South Ossetia

Almost a year after the beginning of the five-day war in August 2008, accusations of ‘provocations’ are going back and forth between Georgia and its breakaway region South Ossetia.

The authorities in South Ossetia reported late on Monday that three mortar rounds were fired from the Georgian village of Plavismani in the direction of the village of Ortev on the South Ossetian side of the administrative border. Both villages are located in the south-east from South Ossetia’s capital, Tskhinvali. The rebel state made similar accusations on 1 August and 29 July. Georgia denied any shooting took place.

Monday late the Georgian Interior Ministry stated that three rocket-propelled grenades were fired from South Ossetia at a Georgian village near the boundary. No injuries were reported.

EU monitoring
Regarding the accusations of 29 July and 1 August a spokesman for the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia said that monitors had seen no evidence of firing from the Georgian side, but that they were unable to investigate the allegations because South Ossetian authorities did not allow them to work inside the territory. Four explosions nevertheless were heard on 1 August on the South Ossetian side of the administrative border, as was confirmed by the spokesman.

On Monday the EU urged Georgia and South Ossetia not to raise tensions around the rebel territory, calling for "unrestricted access" for EU monitors to both sides of the South Ossetian administrative boundary line, which are currently denied access to both of Georgia’s rebel regions. "The EU notes with concern the recent accusations of shellings and other incidents on both sides of the South Ossetian administrative boundary line, and urges all sides to refrain from any action that may lead to increased tensions at this sensitive time," said a statement of current EU presidency Sweden.

Russia’s involvement
Russia threatened to use "all available force" to counter what it called Georgian "provocations" in South Ossetia. In an interview South Ossetia's president Eduard Kokoity said he wanted Russia to send in more troops and "more serious weaponry," and that his goal eventually was to unite his people with Russia.

Georgia on 2 August accused Russia of shifting the border of South Ossetia deeper into Georgian territory. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in an interview said he fears that Russia remains intent upon crushing Georgian statehood. While he does not see a new war coming up, Saakashvili says he expects Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to stick to his goal of ousting him as Georgian leader.

Last year, the conflict between South Ossetia and Georgia erupted into a full-scale war. Russia responded by sending armed troops into Georgia and taking control of both separatist territories South Ossetia and Abkhazia. After a French-brokered cease-fire, the situation hardened into its present-day form. Russia recognized both rebel states as independent nations. Georgia, meanwhile, has sought international pressure to force Russia to withdraw its troops, as called for in the cease-fire agreement. The anniversary of the war is this week, on 7 August.


Sources: Civil Georgia; NewsRu; Reuters; RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty; Volkskrant; NRC