Russian FM: On the origins of the situation around Abkhazia and South Ossetia

On 16 April 2008, Vladimir V. Putin requested the Government of the Russian Federation, federal executive bodies and executive bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation to ensure comprehensive protection of the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of citizens of the Russian Federation, residing in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. To this end, cooperation was pursued with de-facto authorities of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, including in trade and economic and social spheres, as well as science and technology, information, culture and education.

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Due to constant provocations on the part of Georgia, its destabilizing activities, as well as escalation of tension in the area of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, on 29 April 2008 the Russian side decided to strengthen the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces within the limits set forth in the Decision of the CIS Council of Heads of States of 22 August 1994.

In the course of his interviews with Mikheil N. Saakashvili on 6 June 2008 in Saint-Petersburg and on 6 July 2008 in Astana, President Dmitry Medvedev called on Georgia to sign an agreement on the non-use of force and security safeguards with Abkhazia and South Ossetia and to conclude an arrangement on the withdrawal of Georgian troops and police forces from upper Kodori valley and de-escalation of the situation there.

6) The night of 7-8 August 2008 marked the culmination of the provocation policy on the part of Tbilisi. The Georgian side unleashed military actions against South Ossetia using heavy armament and military equipment (aviation, tanks, howitzers, multiple rocket launchers) despite the assurances on the non-use of force made by Mikheil N. Saakashvili a few hours earlier.

The headquarters of the Mixed Peacekeeping Forces (MPF) was heavily attacked, the fire was aimed at the JPKF observation posts, living quarters, graveyards, and cultural monuments. The shells also hit the OSCE office with the Organization's observers. On 8 August, in the day time, the Georgian troops entered Tskhinval. The Georgian military personnel from the JPKF who had abandoned their positions before the attack on Tskhinval joined in the actions of the Georgian army and opened fire on their comrades-in-arms from the peacekeeping contingent.

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