Русская версияWith Georgia and Russia locked in a tense confrontation over
Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia, observers say it would take only
the smallest spark on the ground to trigger a war, which could
embroil the entire region.
A review of the last two decades shows
how the relations between the neighbors have steadily deteriorated.
1991
The Soviet Union collapses and Georgia, which was absorbed into the
Russian empire in the 19th century, then taken over by the Soviet
Bolsheviks in the next century, becomes independent.
1992- 1994
Minority ethnic groups in the provinces of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia fight separatist wars to end Georgian rule, resulting in
thousands of deaths. Both breakaway regions have significant
Russian financial and political backing, but have not been
recognised by any foreign government and officially remain part of
Georgia.
1994
Under a shaky ceasefire agreement, a mainly Russian peacekeeping
force is deployed in Abkhazia. Russian troops also lead a joint
peacekeeping force in South Ossetia.
2000
Russia's new president, Vladimir Putin, imposes visa requirements
on Georgians going to Russia, unlike citizens from other countries
in the 12-member Commonwealth of Independent States.
2002
After repeated accusations by Russia that Georgia is sheltering
Chechen rebels, an air raid takes place on the Pankisi Gorge just
inside Georgia. Russia denies responsibility for the attack, which
killed one person.
Georgia applies to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization,
angering Russia. Georgia also becomes a key US ally after agreeing
to host oil and gas pipelines from the Caspian Sea to Turkey,
bypassing Russia.
2003
The peaceful "Rose Revolution" ousts Eduard Shevarnadze and brings
to power Mikheil Saakashvili, who immediately launches a strongly
pro-Western policy aiming at NATO membership and economic and
governmental reforms.
2005
Despite growing tensions with Saakashvili's government, Moscow
agrees to remove Soviet-era military bases from Georgian territory
by the end of 2008.
2006
Georgia is hit by with severe gas shortages after a pipeline
explosion inside Russia destroys a key export route. Those behind
the bombing are never discovered.
Georgia arrests four Russian military personnel on spying charges.
Moscow responds with sweeping economic sanctions, cutting all
travel links, deporting hundreds of ethnic-Georgians from Russia,
and stopping Georgian imports.
2008
Feb 17: Kosovo declares itself independent from Serbia. Moscow
opposes the move, and warns it will now be difficult to resist
claims for recognition from breakaway regions in former Soviet
countries, including Georgia.
April 3: NATO member states at a summit in the Romanian capital
Bucharest agree that Georgia and Ukraine can one day join the
alliance, though they stop short of giving them a firm timetable
for accession. A key prerequisite for joining NATO is a resolution
of all internal and cross-border disputes.
April 16: Russian President Vladimir Putin orders his officials to
establish semi-official ties with separatist administrations in
Georgia's Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia says the order is a
violation of international law.
April 29: Russia despatches extra troops to Abkhazia to counter
what it says are Georgian plans for an attack. The next day NATO
accuses Moscow of stirring up tensions with Georgia.
May 6: Georgia says Russia's deployment of extra troops in Abkhazia
has brought the prospect of war "very close."
May 31: Putin, now prime minister of Russia, says he approves of a
Georgian proposal for Abkhazia's autonomy but not full
independence. He insists that the people living in Abkhazia must
give their consent.
July 3: Two separatists are killed in South Ossetia in one of the
most intensive exchanges of fire with Georgian forces in months.
July 5: New Russian President Dmitry Medvedev urges Georgian
President Saakashvili to refrain from "stoking tensions" in
Georgia's breakaway regions.
July 6 - A bomb explodes in a cafe in the Abkhaz town of Gali,
killing four people. It is the largest single loss of life in
months. The separatists blame Georgia, Tbilisi denies any
involvement.
July 7 -10: South Ossetia detains four Georgian servicemen, saying
they were scouting out artillery targets. Later Saakashvili tells
police to release the four. The same evening, Russian fighter jets
fly into Georgian airspace over South Ossetia. Moscow says the
mission was intended to "cool hot heads in Tbilisi." Georgia
recalls its ambassador from Moscow in protest at the Russian
flights.
July 11: Russia says it will reject moves by the US to play a
bigger role in defusing the standoff with Georgia.
Aug. 3:
Moscow speaks of a potential "large-scale" military conflict in
light of Georgia's moves to silence rebels wanting to break away.
Aug. 4:
Georgia claims that the evacuation of hundreds of South Ossetian
children to Russia is an attempt to create an "illusion of war."
Aug. 6:
As fighting breaks out in South Ossetia, each side claims the
other opened fire first.
August 8, 2008
After weeks of tension and low-level clashes, Georgia says it has
taken control of the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali. Russia
sends reinforcements into the territory, claiming
Georgian attacks killed more than 10 of its peacekeepers.
Russian warplanes reportedly bomb Georgian targets. More than 1,400
civilians are killed in the fighting and thousands of refugees have
fled to the Russian border.
(Deutsche Welle)
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