Is Mikheil Saakashvili a war crimminal?

[Imperializt Russia]

So deliberately targeting civilians with cluster bombs and multiple launch ballistic rocket systems. is not a war crime?

Russian Air Force bombed Georgian cities that were over 300 km away from conflict zone. Maybe the name RBK-250 will say anything to you?

What's the difference between Georgia and Russia in this conflict is that Georgia has admitted using cluster bomb but Russia has denied it so far, eventhough there is all the evidence. Unexploded bombs, videos and so on.

And most of the Georgian missiles landed near Roki tunnel so it wasn't deliberately used against civilian population. Roki tunnel is a place where Russian forces came to Georgia.

http://www.harpoondatabases.com/encyclo ... y2809.aspx

"Combat Usage"
"Europe"

During the 2008 South Ossetia war, several anti-cluster bomb organizations claimed that Russia had employed RBK-250s against Georgia however the pictures accompanying the claim were of different submunition weapons. It is none the less possible that they were used. Both the Russian Federation and Georgia had RBK-250s and RBK-500s on hand at the start of the conflict.

[Chevrro]

Well they aren't under Georgian control right now eventhough they should be. Instead of Georgian forces Russian troops are there.

So you're admitting that your claim about SO and Abkhazia are de facto Georgian was wrong.

Good.

So, apart from admitting you don't know the meaning of the terms you use, do you have actually anything to contribute to this thread, which is - again - about war crimes committed by the Georgian side in the Russo-Georgian war?

Yes I made little mistake. I accidentaly switched Russia and Georgia in this sentence - saw it now. But in reality Georgia should have control over these areas. Russia just can't take pieces of Georgian territory away.

[Risottia]

Incredibly minor, I know, but I'm not sure you mean this term.

I'm referring to things like these:
http://www.armyrecognition.com/images/s ... gy_001.jpg
(Through not that exact vehicle design)
Sorry forgot the correct term

The one in the photo is actually a BM-21 Grad.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BM-21_Grad

[Risottia]

So you're admitting that your claim about SO and Abkhazia are de facto Georgian was wrong.

Good.

So, apart from admitting you don't know the meaning of the terms you use, do you have actually anything to contribute to this thread, which is - again - about war crimes committed by the Georgian side in the Russo-Georgian war?

Yes I made little mistake. I accidentaly switched Russia and Georgia in this sentence - saw it now. But in reality Georgia should have control over these areas. Russia just can't take pieces of Georgian territory away.

Ok, that's your opinion on the issue of the SO and Abkhaz sovereignty issue.
How about the THREAD TOPIC now?

[Chevrro]

Russian Air Force bombed Georgian cities that were over 300 km away from conflict zone. Maybe the name RBK-250 will say anything to you?

What's the difference between Georgia and Russia in this conflict is that Georgia has admitted using cluster bomb but Russia has denied it so far, eventhough there is all the evidence. Unexploded bombs, videos and so on.

And most of the Georgian missiles landed near Roki tunnel so it wasn't deliberately used against civilian population. Roki tunnel is a place where Russian forces came to Georgia.

http://www.harpoondatabases.com/encyclo ... y2809.aspx

"Combat Usage"
"Europe"

During the 2008 South Ossetia war, several anti-cluster bomb organizations claimed that Russia had employed RBK-250s against Georgia however the pictures accompanying the claim were of different submunition weapons. It is none the less possible that they were used. Both the Russian Federation and Georgia had RBK-250s and RBK-500s on hand at the start of the conflict.

Why should Georgian Air Forces bomb their own cities with cluster bombs? Doesn't make any sense.
You know that there are witnesses and video evidence of Russian planes dropping these cluster bombs.
I don't belive that Georgian army borrowed Russian fighters to bomb their own city? Seems unlikely.

[Chevrro]

Yes I made little mistake. I accidentaly switched Russia and Georgia in this sentence - saw it now. But in reality Georgia should have control over these areas. Russia just can't take pieces of Georgian territory away.

Ok, that's your opinion on the issue of the SO and Abkhaz sovereignty issue.
How about the THREAD TOPIC now?

Maybe you should read the other part of my post too then. You're making such a big deal about my little mistake.

[Chevrro]

Death of Russian peacekeepers isn't fault of Saakasvhili. In this case peacekeeping forces weren't neutral.
There are numerous cases where Russian peacekeepers fired at Georgian army.

I though that peacekeepers were supposed to be neutral not sided with one of the factions participating in war.

[Sinal Ornit]

Saakashvili is a war criminal and should be punished. He acted as the victim of 'big bad Russia' and succesfully made everyone think Russia was the agressor, while it was actually the other way around.

[Risottia]

Ok, that's your opinion on the issue of the SO and Abkhaz sovereignty issue.
How about the THREAD TOPIC now?

Maybe you should read the other part of my post too then.

Nothing else found in the post of yours to which I'm answering.

You're making such a big deal about my little mistake.

No, I'm making a big deal about your post not addressing the topic.

[Imperializt Russia]

I'm referring to things like these:
http://www.armyrecognition.com/images/s ... gy_001.jpg
(Through not that exact vehicle design)
Sorry forgot the correct term

The one in the photo is actually a BM-21 Grad.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BM-21_Grad

According to the article that story is from (http://www.armyrecognition.com/russia_russian_army_vehicles_system_artillery_uk/tornado-g_122mm_mlrs_multiple_launch_rocket_system_technical_data_sheet_specifications_pictures_.html), "Tornado-G" is a modernisation of the BM-21 system.

Confusingly, "Tornado" is also the name of the 9A52-4 rocket launcher intended to supersede the BM-30 (9A52-2) Smerch. But both 9A52-series launchers are 300mm, the Tornado-G is a 122mm forty-round system - much like the original Grad, come to think of it.

http://www.harpoondatabases.com/encyclo ... y2809.aspx

Why should Georgian Air Forces bomb their own cities with cluster bombs? Doesn't make any sense.
You know that there are witnesses and video evidence of Russian planes dropping these cluster bombs.
I don't belive that Georgian army borrowed Russian fighters to bomb their own city? Seems unlikely.

The allegation is that one or both sides used cluster weapons, though the evidence given appears to point to neither side using the RBK-250 weapons in their inventory, since images of cluster submunitions claimed to have been used were apparently not RBK-250 submunitions.

The Georgian Air Force operates the Su-25 "Frogfoot" and MiG-29 "Fulcrum" as combat aircraft.
Unsurprisingly, as they are of Soviet origin, Russian forces also likely used these aircraft in the 2008 conflict.

[Chevrro]

The one in the photo is actually a BM-21 Grad.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BM-21_Grad

According to the article that story is from (http://www.armyrecognition.com/russia_russian_army_vehicles_system_artillery_uk/tornado-g_122mm_mlrs_multiple_launch_rocket_system_technical_data_sheet_specifications_pictures_.html), "Tornado-G" is a modernisation of the BM-21 system.

Confusingly, "Tornado" is also the name of the 9A52-4 rocket launcher intended to supersede the BM-30 (9A52-2) Smerch. But both 9A52-series launchers are 300mm, the Tornado-G is a 122mm forty-round system - much like the original Grad, come to think of it.

Why should Georgian Air Forces bomb their own cities with cluster bombs? Doesn't make any sense.
You know that there are witnesses and video evidence of Russian planes dropping these cluster bombs.
I don't belive that Georgian army borrowed Russian fighters to bomb their own city? Seems unlikely.

The allegation is that one or both sides used cluster weapons, though the evidence given appears to point to neither side using the RBK-250 weapons in their inventory, since images of cluster submunitions claimed to have been used were apparently not RBK-250 submunitions.

The Georgian Air Force operates the Su-25 "Frogfoot" and MiG-29 "Fulcrum" as combat aircraft.
Unsurprisingly, as they are of Soviet origin, Russian forces also likely used these aircraft in the 2008 conflict.

I'm not denying that Georgia used cluster bombs. Georgia has admitted using but numerous sources and witnesses saw Russians planes dropping cluster bombs too. Human Rights Watch confirmed this also.

[Risottia]

Why should Georgian Air Forces bomb their own cities with cluster bombs? Doesn't make any sense.
You know that there are witnesses and video evidence of Russian planes dropping these cluster bombs.

Which does NOT deny Georgians committing war crimes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Geor ... f_7_August

At 11:45 p.m. Georgian forces began a major artillery bombardment of downtown Tskhinvali, surrounding heights and a number of villages.[156][157][158] Several other villages were more lightly shelled. The Georgians used 27 rocket launchers, including BM-21 Grad and LAR-160 units. Georgian forces also used 152mm heavy self-propelled guns and cluster bombs.[55] At this point OSCE monitors reported that shells were falling on Tskhinvali every 15–20 seconds.(registration required)[158]

Human Rights Watch reports that the Georgian forces used Grad rockets, self-propelled artillery, mortars, and Howitzer cannons during the attack.... HRW documented a serious BM-21 rocket damage to a hospital building, houses and other civilian infrastructure in Tskhinvali. HRW concludes that while South Ossetian forces are responsible for endangering civilians, setting up defensive positions in close vicinity of civilian structures, Georgia is responsible for the use of indiscriminate weapons such as Grad MRL in densely populated areas, making the attack "unlawful".[159]

I don't belive that Georgian army borrowed Russian fighters to bomb their own city? Seems unlikely.

[/quote]
Georgia owned Su-25 bombers, and even produced it in a factory near the Tblisi airport. That's why the Russians targeted it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Geor ... Tskhinvali
After securing the heights around Tskhinvali, Georgian Interior Ministry commandos, supported by Sukhoi Su-25 strike aircraft, artillery, tanks, and Otokar Cobra armored vehicles, entered the city.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su-25#2008 ... eorgia_war
In August 2008, Su-25s were used by both Georgia and Russia during the 2008 Russia–Georgia war. Su-25s of the Georgian Air Force participated in providing air support for troops during Battle of Tskhinvali and launched bombing raids on targets in South Ossetia.[3] Russian military Su-25s struck Georgian forces in South Ossetia, and undertook air raids on targets in Georgia.[34] The Russian military officially confirmed the loss of three Su-25 aircraft to the Georgian air defense, though the Moscow Defense Brief suggests four.[35][36] Russia estimates that it destroyed three Georgian Su-25s in the war, none confirmed by Georgia.[35][37] The three Russian aircraft were reportedly downed by Georgian Buk-M1 air defence units.[38] Georgian Su-25s were able to operate at night.[38] In early August 2008, Russian Su-25s attacked the Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing plant, where the Su-25 is produced, dropping bombs on the factory's airfield.[39]

So, any more unsourced stuff?

[Republic of Greater America]

No. He was doing as he was told, and for a justifiable reason, wiping out Georgian terrorists. Besides, the losers in The Hague oughta learn how to shut up.

[Risottia]

No. He was doing as he was told, and for a justifiable reason, wiping out Georgian terrorists. Besides, the losers in The Hague oughta learn how to shut up.

Interesting claim. Exactly, who told Saakashvili to "wipe out Georgian terrorists", according to you?

[Jessjohnesik]

Yes he is, most certainly.

I honestly can't believe that many people still think he isn't. And quite frankly, the US role in the this 'conflict'.
Not to mention the press cover up of this incident to actually portray Russia as the attacker.

[Chevrro]

Why should Georgian Air Forces bomb their own cities with cluster bombs? Doesn't make any sense.
You know that there are witnesses and video evidence of Russian planes dropping these cluster bombs.

Which does NOT deny Georgians committing war crimes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Geor ... f_7_August

At 11:45 p.m. Georgian forces began a major artillery bombardment of downtown Tskhinvali, surrounding heights and a number of villages.[156][157][158] Several other villages were more lightly shelled. The Georgians used 27 rocket launchers, including BM-21 Grad and LAR-160 units. Georgian forces also used 152mm heavy self-propelled guns and cluster bombs.[55] At this point OSCE monitors reported that shells were falling on Tskhinvali every 15–20 seconds.(registration required)[158]

Human Rights Watch reports that the Georgian forces used Grad rockets, self-propelled artillery, mortars, and Howitzer cannons during the attack.... HRW documented a serious BM-21 rocket damage to a hospital building, houses and other civilian infrastructure in Tskhinvali. HRW concludes that while South Ossetian forces are responsible for endangering civilians, setting up defensive positions in close vicinity of civilian structures, Georgia is responsible for the use of indiscriminate weapons such as Grad MRL in densely populated areas, making the attack "unlawful".[159]

I don't belive that Georgian army borrowed Russian fighters to bomb their own city? Seems unlikely.

Georgia owned Su-25 bombers, and even produced it in a factory near the Tblisi airport. That's why the Russians targeted it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Geor ... Tskhinvali
After securing the heights around Tskhinvali, Georgian Interior Ministry commandos, supported by Sukhoi Su-25 strike aircraft, artillery, tanks, and Otokar Cobra armored vehicles, entered the city.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su-25#2008 ... eorgia_war
In August 2008, Su-25s were used by both Georgia and Russia during the 2008 Russia–Georgia war. Su-25s of the Georgian Air Force participated in providing air support for troops during Battle of Tskhinvali and launched bombing raids on targets in South Ossetia.[3] Russian military Su-25s struck Georgian forces in South Ossetia, and undertook air raids on targets in Georgia.[34] The Russian military officially confirmed the loss of three Su-25 aircraft to the Georgian air defense, though the Moscow Defense Brief suggests four.[35][36] Russia estimates that it destroyed three Georgian Su-25s in the war, none confirmed by Georgia.[35][37] The three Russian aircraft were reportedly downed by Georgian Buk-M1 air defence units.[38] Georgian Su-25s were able to operate at night.[38] In early August 2008, Russian Su-25s attacked the Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing plant, where the Su-25 is produced, dropping bombs on the factory's airfield.[39]

So, any more unsourced stuff?

It isn't unsourced. I think Human Rights Watch is more credible than wikipedia article which is written by an anonymous author.

Eventhough Georgia operates Sukhoi Su-25 I'm definitely sure that they don't have Russian Air Force insignia painted on them. Georgia has their own air force insignia not Russian Red Star.

[Nevanmaa]

Not at all, more like a hero. Trying to punish traitorous secessionists

So, if there was some movement of Karelians trying to secede from Russia, you'd support the Russians shelling their villages with howitzers. Especially if Finnish troops were stationed there as peacekeepers under a Finno-Russian bilateral agreement.

Good to know how much you despise Karelians.

By the way, this also means you would have supported:
a) the Russians razing Helsinki as the Finns were "traitorous secessionists", and
b) the British razing Baltimore and Philadelphia, as the American Colonists were "traitorous secessionists".

Don't you just love double standards?

Yeah, Ossetians were definitely seceding from their own will, not because they were traitors and Russian puppets

I'd have nothing against independence of Ossetia and Abkhazia if they were independent because they really wanted it, but right now they're just Russian puppet states where Abkhaz and Ossetian isn't even spoken, the currency used is the Russian rouble and both areas are filled with Russian occupation forces. The Ossetian situation is especially laughable; South Ossetia is independent, North Ossetia is not. Almost any real nation would protest such a situation but I haven't heard a single protest from Ossetians that their nation is divided in two.

[Imperializt Russia]

Several of the statements there have multiple citings. Many have at least one.

[Magna Libero]

First of all I have to say that I am embarrassingly ignorant on the subject.

That alone I'm referring to OP does not make him more of a murdering war criminal than many governmental leaders. I mean, that's what governmental leaders sometimes do. Mikhail is just a little bit worse than Putin, Thatcher or JFK.

I have understood that he IS a war criminal. The use of cluster bombs alone does not either make him a criminal, IMO. He should be treated as a criminal, though, for the war and atrocities against civilians.
Okay, that sound vague

[Gallup]

Always be skeptical when a politician is accused of bad crimes. It could be a hoax by the other side.

[Shofercia]

Not at all, more like a hero. Trying to punish traitorous secessionists and getting rid of Russian occupation forces from a sovereign nation like Georgia was completely justified. Saakashvili turned Georgia from a poor, corrupt backwater into a modern European democracy and he deserves respect for his great deeds.

So having a third of your population living as subsistence farmers is, according to Hippo, "modern European democracy".

http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/count ... gs/georgia

Hippo, why do you hate Europe so much?

Yeah, he's a war criminal. Attacking a peacekeeping base and a bunch of civilians with rocket launchers, without any serious provocation, that's a war crime.

Totally not biased.

Anyhow, no I don't think he's a war criminal.

Oh, I know I'm biased. Now, how's the argument that I made biased? Do tell, do tell!

America allegedly shut down the GLONASS network, or a part of it, during the conflict to prevent the Russians from using satellite-guided weapons. Didn't stop an Iskander missile from allegedly striking a Georgian facility and destroy half a battalion's worth of tanks.

2 Iskanders

No he isn't. Only a person who knows no background of this conflict would answer yes.

South-Ossetia and Abkhazia are part of Georgia, even now de facto.
In my opinion it isn't invasion when you move your troops to your own territory.

Russia had been shipping weapons and military vehicles to South-Ossetia and Abkhazia since the beginning of year 2008. Russia was going to launch attack in middle of the August but Georgian army knew that they had no chance against Russian army so they tried to use surprise moment in their advantage.

That is factually incorrect. Abkhazia has never been de facto dependent on Georgia. South Ossetia had de facto independence after the fall of the USSR. Also, Russia wouldn't have launched an attack during the Olympics, that is utter stupidity. So, Chevrro, it appears that the person with no background in the conflict would be... you!

So deliberately targeting civilians with cluster bombs and multiple launch ballistic rocket systems. is not a war crime?

Russian Air Force bombed Georgian cities that were over 300 km away from conflict zone. Maybe the name RBK-250 will say anything to you?

What's the difference between Georgia and Russia in this conflict is that Georgia has admitted using cluster bomb but Russia has denied it so far, eventhough there is all the evidence. Unexploded bombs, videos and so on.

And most of the Georgian missiles landed near Roki tunnel so it wasn't deliberately used against civilian population. Roki tunnel is a place where Russian forces came to Georgia.

Again, incorrect. Most of the damage was done to Tskhinvali: http://www.thenation.com/article/cold-war-wasnt

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e58_1219589737

This map presents a satellite-based damage assessment for the city of Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, Georgia following the armed conflict between Georgian and Russian military forces in August 2008. Damaged buildings have been identified with WorldView-1 and Formosat-2 satellite imagery acquired on 19 August 2008 at a spatial resolution of 50cm and 2m respectively. An estimated total of 438 buildings within the mapped extent of Tskhinvali have been classified either as destroyed or severely damaged. An important preliminary finding of this satellite damage analysis is the observed heavy concentration of building damages within clearly defined residential areas. Please note, this is an initial damage assessment and has not yet been independently validated on the ground. Please send additions/corrections to the contact information below.

"If you don't agree with me you know nothing about it".
Compelling argument.


According to Georgia.
According to Russia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia are independent countries.
You know, during and after a conflict, you can have conflicting opinions, surprise surprise.

Also, you've got the meaning of "de facto" totally wrong. Georgia claims that SO and Abkhazia are "de iure" part of its own territory. "De facto", it's pretty much evident they're not under Georgian control.


Since we're not talking "invasion" but "war crimes" - check the thread title and OP - this opinion of yours is totally immaterial to the purpose of the present thread.
Maybe you aren't educated enough about the difference between the two concepts. Wiki wants to be your friend, by the way.


And this does not imply the Georgian side didn't commit any war crime.
Do you have any actual argument about the thread topic, or are you just spamming?

Well they aren't under Georgian control right now eventhough they should be. Instead of Georgian forces Russian troops are there.

De Facto doesn't cover what ifs, or how misled commentators believe things should be.

So you're admitting that your claim about SO and Abkhazia are de facto Georgian was wrong.

Good.

So, apart from admitting you don't know the meaning of the terms you use, do you have actually anything to contribute to this thread, which is - again - about war crimes committed by the Georgian side in the Russo-Georgian war?

Yes I made little mistake. I accidentaly switched Russia and Georgia in this sentence - saw it now. But in reality Georgia should have control over these areas. Russia just can't take pieces of Georgian territory away.

1801 - Georgia joins Russian Empire
1822 - Abkhazia joins Russian Empire
1917-1922 - Civil War
Post 1922 - Georgia and Abkhazia enter the USSR as independent SSRs. Later, Stalin revokes Abkhazia's SSR designation, and gives it to his native Georgia as an ASSR.
1991 - Georgia declares independent from the USSR. South Ossetia opts to stay in with the Russian Federation, much like West Virginia did, and Abkhazia declared independence. To you, of course, this is all Russia's fault. As I said before, typical Russophobia.

So, if there was some movement of Karelians trying to secede from Russia, you'd support the Russians shelling their villages with howitzers. Especially if Finnish troops were stationed there as peacekeepers under a Finno-Russian bilateral agreement.

Good to know how much you despise Karelians.

By the way, this also means you would have supported:
a) the Russians razing Helsinki as the Finns were "traitorous secessionists", and
b) the British razing Baltimore and Philadelphia, as the American Colonists were "traitorous secessionists".

Don't you just love double standards?

Yeah, Ossetians were definitely seceding from their own will, not because they were traitors and Russian puppets

That's correct. Hippo's like Faux News, when he attempts sarcasm, he ends up making a factually correct claim.

I'd have nothing against independence of Ossetia and Abkhazia if they were independent because they really wanted it, but right now they're just Russian puppet states where Abkhaz and Ossetian isn't even spoken, the currency used is the Russian rouble and both areas are filled with Russian occupation forces. The Ossetian situation is especially laughable; South Ossetia is independent, North Ossetia is not. Almost any real nation would protest such a situation but I haven't heard a single protest from Ossetians that their nation is divided in two.

Yep, those Abkhaz, such Russian puppets! I mean they're so puppety, that they wouldn't even elect a pro-Russian leader. A sign of their puppetness for Hippo's irrational Russophobia.

Always be skeptical when a politician is accused of bad crimes. It could be a hoax by the other side.

"You, go start war with Russia by bombing a civilian city, and attacking peacekeepers!" That's essentially what Saakashvili ordered. He deserves to be locked up.

[Petrovia-]

No he isn't. Only a person who knows no background of this conflict would answer yes.

South-Ossetia and Abkhazia are part of Georgia, even now de facto.
In my opinion it isn't invasion when you move your troops to your own territory.

Russia had been shipping weapons and military vehicles to South-Ossetia and Abkhazia since the beginning of year 2008. Russia was going to launch attack in middle of the August but Georgian army knew that they had no chance against Russian army so they tried to use surprise moment in their advantage.

South Ossetia belongs to the Ossetians and Abkhazia belongs to the Abkhazians.

They were there before the Georgians, it's their land.

[Petrovia-]

No. He was doing as he was told, and for a justifiable reason, wiping out Georgian terrorists. Besides, the losers in The Hague oughta learn how to shut up.

There's no such thing as "Georgian terrorists", and Ossetians are neither terrorists nor Georgians. And he wasn't ordered to do anything, he did it all on his own free will. Get your facts straight.

So, if there was some movement of Karelians trying to secede from Russia, you'd support the Russians shelling their villages with howitzers. Especially if Finnish troops were stationed there as peacekeepers under a Finno-Russian bilateral agreement.

Good to know how much you despise Karelians.

By the way, this also means you would have supported:
a) the Russians razing Helsinki as the Finns were "traitorous secessionists", and
b) the British razing Baltimore and Philadelphia, as the American Colonists were "traitorous secessionists".

Don't you just love double standards?

Yeah, Ossetians were definitely seceding from their own will, not because they were traitors and Russian puppets

I'd have nothing against independence of Ossetia and Abkhazia if they were independent because they really wanted it, but right now they're just Russian puppet states where Abkhaz and Ossetian isn't even spoken, the currency used is the Russian rouble and both areas are filled with Russian occupation forces. The Ossetian situation is especially laughable; South Ossetia is independent, North Ossetia is not. Almost any real nation would protest such a situation but I haven't heard a single protest from Ossetians that their nation is divided in two.

Wow Hippo, of all the Russophobic bullshit you've ever posted.

First off, their not puppets, unless you have a source proving otherwise, that part of your argument is as dead as Lenin. Russian, Ossetian, and Georgian are the official languages of South Ossetia, so yes, I believe they do speak their own language. Meanwhile, Abkhazia's official languages are both Abkhaz and Russian. Of course Russian soldiers are there, they're there to protect the break-away republics from being invaded AGAIN. South Ossetia, nor Abkhazia are officially independent until Georgia agrees they're independent. They don't protest because the Ossetians want to be with their fellow Ossetians in Russia, but because you're Russophobic you, naturally you'll claim that this isn't what they want, and that it's just the "evil Communist Russian government puppets" instead of coming up with a moderately acceptable argument. Yes, the Russian rubble is used. Alongside the Abkhazian apsar in Abkhazia. And South Ossetia uses the Russian ruble because it wants to be a part of Russia, and North Ossetia, which, being part of Russia, uses the Russian ruble as well. If they don't want to be independent, why would they make their own currency?

[Imperializt Russia]

Russian Air Force bombed Georgian cities that were over 300 km away from conflict zone. Maybe the name RBK-250 will say anything to you?

What's the difference between Georgia and Russia in this conflict is that Georgia has admitted using cluster bomb but Russia has denied it so far, eventhough there is all the evidence. Unexploded bombs, videos and so on.

And most of the Georgian missiles landed near Roki tunnel so it wasn't deliberately used against civilian population. Roki tunnel is a place where Russian forces came to Georgia.

Again, incorrect. Most of the damage was done to Tskhinvali: http://www.thenation.com/article/cold-war-wasnt

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e58_1219589737

This map presents a satellite-based damage assessment for the city of Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, Georgia following the armed conflict between Georgian and Russian military forces in August 2008. Damaged buildings have been identified with WorldView-1 and Formosat-2 satellite imagery acquired on 19 August 2008 at a spatial resolution of 50cm and 2m respectively. An estimated total of 438 buildings within the mapped extent of Tskhinvali have been classified either as destroyed or severely damaged. An important preliminary finding of this satellite damage analysis is the observed heavy concentration of building damages within clearly defined residential areas. Please note, this is an initial damage assessment and has not yet been independently validated on the ground. Please send additions/corrections to the contact information below.

Dunno if I'm clicking the wrong link or what, but I can't get the map to work there, Shof.

[Nationes Pii Redivivi]

He is a War Criminal, in that he committed War Crimes, but beyond that, I will not speculate.