Russian Army Makes a Move against Georgian Forces

By Pamela Mortimer

Military experts claim that Friday’s move by the Russians into the capital of South Ossetia isn’t an act of war; however the move to control Georgian forces is being considered a hostile attack.

Georgia, which is situated on the Black Sea and borders Russia and Turkey, was a part of the Soviet Union until the union disbanded. Russia claims that Georgia’s move toward obtaining a NATO membership is a step toward undermining Moscow and will permit western influences to weaken Russian influence.

The operation was carried out by segments of Russia's 58th Army which includes armored vehicles and 150 tanks. The Army was sent into the capital of South Ossetia after Georgian troops infiltrated the city in an attempt to "crush separatist forces" seeking to gain control of the newly independent region.

According to Kakha Lamaia, a member of Georgia's National Security Council, Russia and Georgia are "very close" to war, if not already at war.

"If it's not war, then we are very close to it," Lamaia said. "The Russians have invaded Georgia and we are under attack."

After the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games, President Bush and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met to discuss what has been referred to as "the Georgia Crisis."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov claims he is "receiving reports of ethnic cleansing in villages of South Ossetia."

"We are receiving reports that a policy of ethnic cleansing was being conducted in villages in South Ossetia, the number of refugees is climbing, the panic is growing, people are trying to save their lives," he said in a televised statement from Russia's Foreign Ministry in Moscow.

Reports state that fighting increased after Georgian forces claimed to have shot down four Russian combat fighters. In return, the Russian Army bombed an airbase in Vaziani located on the outskirts of Tblisi, the Georgia’s capital city.

According to Russian Ground Forces spokesman Colonel Igor Konashenkov, ten Russian peacekeepers were killed with another 30 injured due to Georgian forces shelling their barracks. The Georgians have denied firing on the Russian forces.

A spokesman for the Georgian government has stated that it would be in America’s best interest to support their actions. A spokesman for President Bush said the two countries should call a ceasefire and hold diplomatic talks to bring an end to the conflict. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has expressed serious concern about the hostile action and claims that NATO is "closely following the situation."