US Aid Ship Arrives in Georgia

Propaganda is the better part of valor

(NEWSER) - More than a year after they stopped shooting at each other, Russia and Georgia are still fighting—on movie screens. Each side is backing high-profile films sympathetic to their take on the war. Russia’s first effort, a documentary entitled Act of Betrayal, fell flat because its claims that Georgia was committing genocide in South Ossetia were too over-the-top even for supporters. But March’s romantic action flick Olympus Inferno fared better, and a third is in the works. More»

New Euro chief warns of competition for resources

(NEWSER) - NATO’s new European commander is wary of Russian intentions in the Arctic, where climate change is opening up trade routes and access to billions of barrels of oil. James Stavridis looks “at the high north and I think it could either be a zone of conflict, I hope not, a zone of competition, probably.” The US Navy admiral's assessment matches that of NATO’s secretary general, who has said climate change in the Arctic has “potentially huge security implications,” the Times of London reports. More»

But Russia broke international law, militia committed genocide

(NEWSER) - Georgia was responsible for triggering last summer’s war with Russia, a European Union investigation has concluded. But Russia was far from blameless, laying the foundation for the war and breaking international law by invading. The report, which was reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, also accuses Russian-backed South Ossetian militias of ethnic cleansing against Georgian civilians, both during the war and afterward. More»

Venezuela recognizes breakaway republics ahead of arms deal talks

(NEWSER) - Hugo Chávez arrived in Moscow today, where the Venezuelan president is reportedly ready for an arms "shopping spree." Chávez is ready to buy at least 100 tanks for $500 million, reports the Times of London, and a Kremlin aide said Venezuela may get loans for helicopters, submarines, and other military hardware. Chávez began his charm offensive today by recognizing as sovereign states South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the two pro-Russian republics at the heart of last year's war with Georgia. More»

(NEWSER) - The Georgian blogger who was taken offline in the cyberattack that shut down Twitter on Thursday believes Moscow is the culprit, he tells the Guardian. The economics professor, who goes by the online name Cyxymu, says he believes Russian authorities targeted him with the denial-of-service attack because of his persistent criticism of the country's conduct in its war over the disputed South Ossetia region. More»