The South Ossetia WarThe South Ossetia WarThe 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 FORMAL HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GAIN FORMAL INDEPENDENCE SINCE BREAKING INDEPENDENCE SINCE BREAKING AWAY IN THE EARLY 1990S. RUSSIA AWAY IN THE EARLY 1990S. RUSSIA HAS NOW RECOGNISED THEM AS HAS NOW RECOGNISED THEM AS INDEPENDENT - A MOVE CONDEMNED INDEPENDENT - A MOVE CONDEMNED BY WESTERN NATIONS. BY WESTERN 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 2008 SOUTH OSSETIAN FORCES IN THE SUMMER OF 2008 PROMPTED GEORGIA TO LAUNCH AN AERIAL 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 THE OSSETIAN CAPITAL, TSKHINVALI, FOR PART OF THE FOLLOWING DAY. 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 ON BOMBING RAIDS BOTH OVER THE PROVINCE AND ON TARGETS IN THE REST OF GEORGIA. TARGETS IN THE REST OF GEORGIA.

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

Countries involved in the Countries involved in the warwar

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 WarMajor Events of the War 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 WarMajor Events of the War 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 it1.1. No recourse to the use of force. No recourse to the use of force. 2.2. Definitive cessation of hostilities. Definitive cessation of hostilities. 3.3. Free access to humanitarian aid (Free access to humanitarian aid (addition rejected:addition rejected: and to allow the and to allow the

return of refugees). return of refugees). 4.4. The Armed Forces of Georgia must withdraw to their permanent The Armed Forces of Georgia must withdraw to their permanent

positions. positions. 5.5. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation must withdraw to the The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation must withdraw to the

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

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