The 2008 South Ossetia War

Russian PM Vladimir Putin was in Beijing to see the opening ceremony for the Olympics, when he warned the country of Georgia that Russia was "compelled to retaliate" against its "aggressive actions". This was two days ago; 8 August.

Before the day ended, Russia had entered the 2008 South Ossetia War.



Georgia is an Eastern European country, close to the Black Sea and Russia. Within the nation, there is a distinct ethnic group called the Ossetians, different from the Georgian ethnic group. Ossetia is a region sandwiched between Russia and Georgia, which contains most of these Ossetians. Some of them settled in North Ossetia, which is part of Russia. South Ossetia was under the Georgian government until 1992, where they had a war and broke away. Since then there have been many armed clashes between South Ossetia and Georgia. South Ossetia is not recognized as a country by the UN; they're officially Georgian separatists.

South Ossetia has rejected offers to return to Georgia, despite being promised a large degree of autonomy.

On August 1, fighting began to get intense between Ossetian paras and Georgian troops. The Georgians began to shell civilian settlements. Evacuations of many civilians to Russia were made in response. This was a sound move, as in a matter of days Georgian forces pushed into the South Ossetian capital city, Tskhinvali, causing hundreds of civilian deaths. The Georgians reiterated their offer to re-assimilate into Georgia as the devastation of Tskhinvali continued.

What does this have to do with Russia?

Apparently, many South Ossetians have been given Russian passports and citizenship, such that more than half of the residents in South Ossetia are either holding Russian passports or are Russian citizens. To "protect Russian citizens", the Russian army moved into South Ossetia on August 8 and by nightfall had retaken Tskhinvali from the Georgians. The Russians are adamant that Georgian forces return to the positions they held before the war began. Georgia has so far, sent back conflicting messages about where its forces are and has not proposed any ceasefire.

Abkhazia, another Georgian breakaway country (also officially unrecognized), just sent 1000 men on South Ossetia's side, today.

Read more here.