Russia, Georgia Built Up to War for Months

Clash over South Ossetia was long-simmering

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 16, 2008 12:01 PM CDT

(Newser) – The explosion of violence in South Ossetia took the world by surprise, but Russia and Georgia had been gearing up for war for months, reports the Wall Street Journal. Both sides had been steadily boosting their military presence around South Ossetia, waiting for the trigger that came with Ossetian shelling of Georgian positions.

Each side blames the other for the build-up of forces in the already tense region, with Georgian officials saying their troops were there only as a deterrent. Georgia's President Saakashvili says he did not order troops to take the South Ossetian capital until he heard reports of a convoy of Russian military tanks moving in. Russian officials say Saakashvili's account is "nonsense," and he had been waiting for any pretext to strike.

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (1)]

A priest walks past a destroyed tank in Tskhinvali in the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)

A South Ossetian militia man walks in front of a damaged building in Tskhinvali in the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia yesterday. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)

Russian soldiers stand in front of an armored vehicle in Tskhinvali in the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia yesterday. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)

Russian soldiers ride atop an armored vehicle through a street in Tskhinvali, capital of Georgian breakaway enclave of South Ossetia. (AP Photo/Musa Sadulayev)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

It's very simple: The Georgians decided to take South Ossetia by force. They thought we'd whine like over Kosovo but our response was very tough. - A Russian official

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

West to Put Screws to Russia

New fury at Russia's formal recognition of breakaway states

(NEWSER) - The West is preparing to crank up diplomatic pressure on Russia after its challenging move formally recognizing breakaway Ossetia and Abkhazia in the wake of its invasion of Georgia. The US, Europe and NATO have condemned the action, but Russia remains defiant. "We are not afraid of anything, including a new cold war," said Russian President Dmitri Medvedev after formally recognizing Georgia's restive states. "If Europeans want a worsening in relations, they will get it of course." More»

Georgia Is the Victim, So Blame Russia

History reveals Russia as the aggressor

(NEWSER) - Why blame Georgia for Russia's invasion when Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is clearly at fault? Putin has been seething ever since pro-Western Mikhail Saakashvili came to power in Georgia 3 years ago, writes Matthew Continetti in The Weekly Standard. "Putin has been pressuring Georgia for years," writes Continetti, shelling Georgia with bureaucratic and economic attacks while bolstering troops in the region. More»

Russian Troops Remain in Georgia

Medvedev backs seperatist regions

(NEWSER) - Russian troops are still occupying the Georgian city of Gori, and other cities beyond the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions, as President Dmitri Medvedev declared today that his nation will stand behind the breakaway regions’ independence bids, CNN reports. Russia says will keep tanks in Gori for up to 3 days to help facilitate the handover of power, Bloomberg reports, but Georgia says Russia is actually building its military presence there. More»

Russia Demands Territories in Peace Proposal

Moscow tells Georgia to leave Abkhazia and South Ossetia

(NEWSER) - Russia is demanding that Georgia give up the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in exchange for peace, the Telegraph reports. Moscow wants Georgia to permanently remove all its troops from the regions and sign a pledge never to use force there again. The demands emerged after a day of heavy negotiating led by Nicolas Sarkozy. More»

Russia Orders End to Georgia War

Medvedev announces halt to military operations

(NEWSER) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered a halt to military operations in Georgia, according to a Kremlin statement. The declaration came moments before Medvedev was to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss an international peace plan after five days of fighting. While Georgian officials claimed that the Russian army was preparing to sack their capital of Tbilisi, Reuters reports that Moscow's forces stayed largely within the two breakaway regions. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Russia, Georgia Built Up to War for Months