12th August 2008, 02:16 PM
As someone who was working in Georgia as recently as last year, this whole affair is particularly worrying.
The Georgian government appears to have cynically decided that the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games was a good time to test Russia's resolve with regard to the protection of 'their people' within the expectant breakaway region of South Ossetia. A frosty reception could have been anticipated, however Russia's reaction has been outrageously out of proportion.
The chances of Georgia ever joining NATO have just receded very rapidly into the distance - just imagine what would be happening now if NATO had allowed Georgia to join last year as they had requested!
As ever it will be the innocent civilians that will pay the price for this political fiasco. Georgians will have had to flee South Ossetia and neighbouring parts of Georgia, as well as Abkhazia, whilst 'Russians' living in South Ossetia have had to cross the Caucasus into Russia and may well be unable to return.
Last year I saw plenty of Georgian 'refugees' in the Lesser Caucasus who had been forced out of South Ossetia in the early 90s and were resigned to never being able to return to their homes. This recent debacle will only add to their number.
Beamo
The Georgian government appears to have cynically decided that the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games was a good time to test Russia's resolve with regard to the protection of 'their people' within the expectant breakaway region of South Ossetia. A frosty reception could have been anticipated, however Russia's reaction has been outrageously out of proportion.
The chances of Georgia ever joining NATO have just receded very rapidly into the distance - just imagine what would be happening now if NATO had allowed Georgia to join last year as they had requested!
As ever it will be the innocent civilians that will pay the price for this political fiasco. Georgians will have had to flee South Ossetia and neighbouring parts of Georgia, as well as Abkhazia, whilst 'Russians' living in South Ossetia have had to cross the Caucasus into Russia and may well be unable to return.
Last year I saw plenty of Georgian 'refugees' in the Lesser Caucasus who had been forced out of South Ossetia in the early 90s and were resigned to never being able to return to their homes. This recent debacle will only add to their number.
Beamo