Rami bringer nogle interessante observationer fra den georgiske journalist Nino Zhizhilashvili, som naturligt nok er on-site i Tbilisi:
South Ossetian autonomous republic was established by the USSR on the territory of Georgia in 1921. Georgians and Ossetians lived there together but Georgians were in absolute majority there. When the USSR collapsed the government of the South Ossetia declared the Independence and stated its desire to join Russia but of course, Georgian population and the government of the country refused. The wide escalation started then and it was the severe war there in early 90th.
But Georgia loose the war as Russian military forces went to the country and supported minority. We had a lot of Georgian refugees from the region which gained the status quo but stayed as a non-recognized republic until now. There never been the peace in the region during the years but the situation tensed last weeks when the massive shootings from both sides took place, because city Tskinvali – the center of the region, was circled by Georgian villages.
Do not ask me now, who started.
Status ser ret mørk ud – Nino Zhizhilashvili håber af gode grunde ikke på hjælp fra USA eller Vesten i det hele taget, men omvendt betyder det også, at den georgiske regering og befolkning ikke har en chance mod Rusland:
We are really in serious troubles. The Russian tanks are coming to the whole territory of Georgia – from all sides… there were a lot of air attacks during the two last days also. No idea what will be the future of my country. Even if the USA will decide to help Georgia by its military forces there would be the end of the country – it could become the land of the war of two empires…
Russian tanks blocked the autobahn connected the Western and Eastern parts of Georgia and wide intervention has started. They are attacking the country from the western and northern boarders. Troops are already at the capital Tbilisi. Nobody knows what are they aiming. The ultimatum was fulfilled by the Georgian government but they are going ahead – the international society is helpless to stop them. SAD! We are expecting the turning off the Internet so I don’t know whether I would be able to contact you soon.
Som Rami siger, lad os håbe det bedste, for Ramis veninde såvel som for området i almindelighed. Som andre har gjort opmærksom på, ser det ud til, at Georgiens populistiske præsident begik en uhyggelig fejltagelse, da han lod sine tropper bombe Syd-Ossetien.
(og så en parantes, med spørgsmål til kommentarfolket: Plejede “Georgien” ikke at hedde “Grusien” på dansk? Er brugen af “Georgien” endnu et eksempel på analfabetiske journalisters afskrift af engelske bulletiner, eller er der et argument for navneskiftet?)