Has Georgia Overreached in Ossetia?
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Analysis: By tackling Russia, Georgia’s President Mikhail Saakashvili has picked a fight he can’t win without more Western support than he’s likely to get
Russia says Georgian forces expelled from S.Ossetian capital
Russia’s peacekeeping command said on Saturday the country’s troops have driven Georgian forces from the capital of the separatist republic of South Ossetia.
“Tskhinvali has been fully liberated,” a spokesman said.
The city has suffered major destruction since the start of Georgia’s ground and air onslaught that began early on Friday. Russia says 1,500 people have so far died in the violence, and 30,000 South Ossetians have fled across the border into Russia.
Bush voices concern over escalating violence in Georgia
United States President George W. Bush said on Saturday he was deeply concerned by the escalating conflict between Russia and Georgia over the separatist republic of South Ossetia.
Medvedev tells Bush Russia aims to force Georgia to accept peace
The Russian president told his U.S. counterpart on Saturday that Russia’s ongoing military operation in Georgia’s breakaway republic of South Ossetia is aimed at forcing Georgia to accept peace.
Russian Military Has Freed Tskhinvali
The Russian military has freed Tskhinvali and has “begun pressing the Georgian units out of the peacekeeping force’s zone of responsibility,” main commander of the Russian infantry Gen. Vladimir Boldyrev stated on the Vesti television news channel. “But the situation in the conflict zone remains extremely difficult,” he added.
Russia Receives Refugees from South Ossetia
Russia has received more than 30,000 refugees from South Ossetia in the last couple of days. All people seeking support of authorities are being rendered the required aid, Interfax reported with reference to the RF Vice Premier Sergei Sobyanin.
Russia’s Warplanes Bombed Out Georgia’s Artillery near Gori
Two warplanes of Russia dropped bombs on Georgia’s artillery 10km from Gori-town of Georgia. The bombs were lowered near the telecom tower in Gori.
General Staff and Foreign Ministry Release Info about Wounded
The total number of victims of the military action in South Ossetia reached 1500 people and continues to grow, Associated Press reports. That was announced by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a telephone press conference with foreign journalists. According to information from Interfax, Anatoly Nagovitsyn, deputy chief of the general staff, reported 20 deaths among Russian peacekeepers and 50 Russian military wounded.
Georgia Is under Martial Law, Tskhinvali Is under Kokoity
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili announced the decision to impose martial law in Georgia at a session of the National Security Council on Saturday. Meanwhile, Interfax reports that South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity is in Tskhinvali at the head of South Ossetian Defense Ministry squadron.
RBC, 08.08.2008, Moscow 19:44:58.Russia will stop air traffic with Georgia starting at 12 a.m. on August 9, 2008, head of the Russian Transportation Ministry’s press office Timur Khikmatov told RBC today. ![](http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/kylekeeton/coffee.gif")
RBC, 08.08.2008, Moscow 17:55:29.More than 10 Russian peacekeepers were killed in the shelling of Tskhinvali, South Ossetia’s capital, and some 30 peacekeepers more were injured, head of public relations of Russia’s Ground Troops Colonel Igor Konashenkov.
RBC, 08.08.2008, Tskhinvali 17:47:01.Russian army has entered South Ossetia, RBC’s correspondent reported from Tskhinvali. He pointed out that it was impossible to name the exact number of tanks and other armored vehicles that entered the city, adding that the number was rather significant.
RBC, 08.08.2008, Moscow 15:58:05.At today’s special dollar trading session for tomorrow deals, the low on deals remained at 23.7755 RUB/USD, while the high on deals spiraled to 24.18 RUB/USD, up RUB 0.40 from the opening. The weighted average dollar exchange rate followed, reaching 23.96 RUB/USD, which is RUB 0.08 above the official exchange rate set by the Bank of Russia for the next three days.