The South Ossetia WarThe South Ossetia War

The Georgia-Russia conflictThe Georgia-Russia conflict By:By:

Mike MelchiorreMike MelchiorreKenny PiccariKenny Piccari

BackgroundBackground

THE SEPARATIST ADMINISTRATIONS THE SEPARATIST ADMINISTRATIONS IN SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA IN SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GAIN HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GAIN FORMAL INDEPENDENCE SINCE FORMAL INDEPENDENCE SINCE BREAKING AWAY IN THE EARLY BREAKING AWAY IN THE EARLY 1990S. RUSSIA HAS NOW 1990S. RUSSIA HAS NOW RECOGNISED THEM AS RECOGNISED THEM AS INDEPENDENT - A MOVE INDEPENDENT - A MOVE CONDEMNED BY WESTERN CONDEMNED BY WESTERN NATIONS. NATIONS.

Causes of the warCauses of the war

A SERIES OF CLASHES BETWEEN GEORGIAN AND A SERIES OF CLASHES BETWEEN GEORGIAN AND SOUTH OSSETIAN FORCES IN THE SUMMER OF SOUTH OSSETIAN FORCES IN THE SUMMER OF 2008 PROMPTED GEORGIA TO LAUNCH AN AERIAL 2008 PROMPTED GEORGIA TO LAUNCH AN AERIAL BOMBARDMENT AND GROUND ATTACK ON SOUTH BOMBARDMENT AND GROUND ATTACK ON SOUTH OSSETIA ON 7 AUGUST. OSSETIA ON 7 AUGUST.

GEORGIAN FORCES CONTROLLED THE SOUTH GEORGIAN FORCES CONTROLLED THE SOUTH OSSETIAN CAPITAL, TSKHINVALI, FOR PART OF OSSETIAN CAPITAL, TSKHINVALI, FOR PART OF THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE FOLLOWING DAY.

RUSSIA, MEANWHILE, POURED THOUSANDS OF RUSSIA, MEANWHILE, POURED THOUSANDS OF TROOPS INTO SOUTH OSSETIA, AND LAUNCHED TROOPS INTO SOUTH OSSETIA, AND LAUNCHED BOMBING RAIDS BOTH OVER THE PROVINCE AND BOMBING RAIDS BOTH OVER THE PROVINCE AND ON TARGETS IN THE REST OF GEORGIA. ON TARGETS IN THE REST OF GEORGIA.

THERE HAVE BEEN UNVERIFIED REPORTS OF THERE HAVE BEEN UNVERIFIED REPORTS OF WAR CRIMES ON BOTH SIDES. WAR CRIMES ON BOTH SIDES.

Countries involved in Countries involved in the warthe war GEORGIAN, RUSSIAN AND SOUTH GEORGIAN, RUSSIAN AND SOUTH

OSSETIAN FORCES WERE ALL OSSETIAN FORCES WERE ALL INVOLVED. THERE WERE ALSO INVOLVED. THERE WERE ALSO CLASHES IN ABKHAZIA, AND CLASHES IN ABKHAZIA, AND RUSSIAN ATTACKS ON OTHER RUSSIAN ATTACKS ON OTHER PARTS OF GEORGIA. PARTS OF GEORGIA.

Strength of ForcesStrength of Forces

The exact numbers are unknown The exact numbers are unknown however there are estimateshowever there are estimates

Georgia- 9,000 – 16,000Georgia- 9,000 – 16,000 Russia- up to 22,000Russia- up to 22,000 South Ossetia- 3,000 regulars, 15,000 South Ossetia- 3,000 regulars, 15,000

reservistsreservists Abkhazia- potential of 45,000Abkhazia- potential of 45,000

Major Events of the Major Events of the WarWar August 7- Georgian armor begins August 7- Georgian armor begins

attacking south Ossetian linesattacking south Ossetian lines August 8- The Battle of Tskhinvali- August 8- The Battle of Tskhinvali-

Georgia captured several South Ossetia Georgia captured several South Ossetia citiescities

August 9- Abkhazian Front- Naval August 9- Abkhazian Front- Naval skirmish between Georgia and Russiaskirmish between Georgia and Russia

Major Events of the Major Events of the WarWar August 14- Occupation of Poti- Russia August 14- Occupation of Poti- Russia

moved into Poti and sunk several moved into Poti and sunk several Georgian naval vesselsGeorgian naval vessels

Six Point Peace PlanSix Point Peace Plan This was used to help end the war, all countries signed itThis was used to help end the war, all countries signed it• No recourse to the use of force. No recourse to the use of force. • Definitive cessation of hostilities. Definitive cessation of hostilities. • Free access to humanitarian aid (Free access to humanitarian aid (addition rejected:addition rejected: and to allow and to allow

the return of refugees). the return of refugees). • The Armed Forces of Georgia must withdraw to their permanent The Armed Forces of Georgia must withdraw to their permanent

positions. positions. • The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation must withdraw to The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation must withdraw to

the line where they were stationed prior to the beginning of the line where they were stationed prior to the beginning of hostilities. Prior to the establishment of international hostilities. Prior to the establishment of international mechanisms the Russian peacekeeping forces will take mechanisms the Russian peacekeeping forces will take additional security measures. (additional security measures. (addition rejected:addition rejected: six months) six months)

• An international debate on the future status of South Ossetia An international debate on the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and ways to ensure their lasting security will take and Abkhazia and ways to ensure their lasting security will take place. (place. (addition rejected:addition rejected: based on the decisions of the UN and based on the decisions of the UN and the OSCE).the OSCE).

ResultResult

The Russians, South Ossetians, and the The Russians, South Ossetians, and the Abkhazians held the victoryAbkhazians held the victory

South Ossetia and Abkhazia received South Ossetia and Abkhazia received partial recognition of being independent partial recognition of being independent countriescountries

Most ethnic Georgians were expelled Most ethnic Georgians were expelled from South Ossetia and from the Kodori from South Ossetia and from the Kodori GorgeGorge

CasualtiesCasualties

Georgia- 183 soldiers abd policemen Georgia- 183 soldiers abd policemen killed, 39 missing, 42 capturedkilled, 39 missing, 42 captured

Russia- 64 killed, 283 missing, 3 Russia- 64 killed, 283 missing, 3 capturedcaptured

South Ossetia- 150 killed, 41capturedSouth Ossetia- 150 killed, 41captured Abkhazia- 1 killed, 2 woundedAbkhazia- 1 killed, 2 wounded

Images of the warImages of the war

Images of the warImages of the war

Images of the warImages of the war

Images of the warImages of the war

Images of the warImages of the war

THE ENDTHE END

Thanks toThanks to

Kenny PiccariKenny Piccari Mike MelchiorreMike Melchiorre

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