This isn't very in-depth, but I've been reading up on the conflict in Georgia and I put together a simple timeline to help myself understand what's going on. This is an ongoing issue, so this timeline is going to be out of date soon, but it might bring you up to date if you haven't been watching.
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1991 - Georgia declares itself independent from the Soviet Union.
1995 - Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two separate regions within Georgia, begin to break away from Georgia amidst ethnic violence. These two states claim independence, but are never recognized by the U.N. This begins many years of fighting within the borders of Georgia between the Georgian government and the separatists. Russia openly supports the separatists in their efforts to be free of Georgia.
August 7, 2008 - Georgia sends their military to South Ossetia to capture their capital. Georgia claims to be doing this in response to recent violence led by the South Ossetian military; South Ossitia denies starting this conflict.
August 8, 2008 - While most of the world was watching the Olympics (and many European government leaders had scheduled vacations) Russia sends ground troops to South Ossetia and Abkhazia to support the separatist fighting and sends air support as well. Putin claims he is preventing a genocide and trying to keep the conflict from entering Russia. The Russian military seems to avoid entering Georgia territory, keeping its fighting within the borders of the breakaway countries.
August 11, 2008 - Georgia pulls its forces out of South Ossetia. The Georgian military has been defeated by the superior firepower of Russia.
August 12, 2008 - Russian President Medvedev calls for a halt to military action in Georgia, saying that the South Ossetia region is secure. On the same day (today, actually...) Georgia reports further Russian attacks. It is later confirmed that Russia is finishing the fight in Abkhazia, hoping to secure that region, as well.
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That's all for now, I might update this as events unravel, but let's pray that it ends peacefully and soon.
1 comment:
Awesome. Thanks for the recap.
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