Georgia, South Ossetia report exchange of gunfire along tense administrative border

October 1st, 2009 MOSCOW - Russia's military Thursday warned of an increasing militarisation of its southern neighbour Georgia, in a warning coming a day after a European Union report blamed both countries for the brief but bitter war in the summer of 2008. Deputy chief of general staff Anatoly Nogovizin said that since the war, Georgia had boosted its military forces by 4,000 to a current level of 36,000.

September 30th, 2009 EU steps up Georgia patrols before war reportMOSCOW — On the eve of a European Union report on who started the Russia-Georgia war, EU monitors have stepped up their patrols in Georgia to try to keep tensions from boiling over into violence, an official said Tuesday. The August 2008 war ended with Russian soldiers driving Georgian forces out of the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

September 30th, 2009 Excerpts from EU report on the Georgia-Russia warFollowing are key excerpts from the independent EU-commissioned report on the causes of the August 2008 war between Russia and Georgia: "Russia called its military actions in Georgia a 'peace enforcement operation' while Georgia called it an 'aggression'." "On the night of 7 to 8 August 2008 ... heavy fighting erupted in and around the town of Tskhinvali in South Ossetia (and) soon extended to other parts of Georgia.

September 15th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russia signed Tuesday agreements on military cooperation with the former Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, a Russian defence ministry spokesman said. Russia recognised the two republics shortly after the end of last August's war with Georgia over South Ossetia, which began when Georgian forces attacked the region in an attempt to bring it back under central control.

September 3rd, 2009 Russia warns Georgia against Abkhaz 'sea blockade'MOSCOW — A Russian official has warned Georgia that attempts to block ships from reaching a Moscow-aligned separatist region of Georgia could end in military intervention. Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko did not make any specific threats in televised comments Thursday but said that "attempts to install a sea blockade" on Abkhazia "could lead to a serious armed incident." Separatist authorities say Georgia has halted 23 ships in Black Sea waters near Abkhazia this year.

August 21st, 2009 US training could target RussiaTBILISI, Georgia — Georgia's defense minister said Friday that training the U.S. military is giving to the country's soldiers headed to Afghanistan involve skills that could be used in any new outbreak of fighting between Georgia and Russia.

August 5th, 2009 South Ossetia seeks to go it aloneTSKHINVALI, Georgia — A year after their soldiers helped repel Georgian troops battling for this separatist-held capital, South Ossetians say they are grateful for Russia's patronage and recognition of their independence claims. But some wonder whether their tiny would-be nation can go it alone: Only Russia and Nicaragua have established diplomatic relations.

August 4th, 2009 Obama, Medvedev discuss Georgia, arms controlMOSCOW — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday spoke with President Barack Obama about Georgia, just days before the anniversary of last year's Russia-Georgia war, a Kremlin statement said. The two leaders shared a telephone conversation at Moscow's initiative, the statement said, adding they also discussed arms control, the Middle East and Iran.

August 3rd, 2009 Georgia says Russia is trying to seize more landTBILISI, Georgia — Georgia accused Russia on Monday of trying to take more territory outside the breakaway province of South Ossetia as tensions rose before the first anniversary of the Russian-Georgian war last summer. Georgia said Russian troops entered the village of Kveshi near South Ossetia on Sunday and erected posts in an attempt to mark a new border.

August 1st, 2009 South Ossetia claims Georgian mortar attackTBILISI, Georgia — Authorities in the separatist Georgian region of South Ossetia said Saturday that two mortar shells had fired into the territory from Georgia proper, and Russia quickly warned that it might retaliate. Georgia denied the claim and accused Russia and South Ossetia of provocation before the first anniversary of Georgia's short but fierce war with Russia last summer.

July 21st, 2009 Georgia seeking US monitors on conflict linesTBILISI, Georgia — Georgia urged the United States on Tuesday to help monitor the boundaries with its two Russian-supported breakaway regions, and a U.S. official said it was a possibility.

July 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia has not contributed to promoting stability following last year's brief war, the US State Department said Tuesday. Medvedev made the controversial trip to South Ossetia Monday and offered financial and military support in defiance of the West and the Georgian government.

June 30th, 2009 Western observers pulling out of AbkhaziaTBILISI, Georgia — Western observers pulled out of Georgia on Tuesday after Russia blocked an extension of the mission to observe the cease-fire that ended last year's war. The pullout of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe mission came as tensions between Georgia and Russia remain high.

June 21st, 2009 Georgia: Blast near EU vehicle kills 1TBILISI, Georgia — A land mine explosion killed the driver of a Georgian medical aid vehicle that was accompanying European Union monitors patrolling a tense area Sunday near breakaway Abkhazia, police and EU officials said. A doctor from a Georgian medical aid group was injured in the roadside blast, Interior Ministry spokesman Zurab Gvenetadze said.

December 24th, 2008 TBILISI - The US and Georgia would sign a strategic partnership agreement in Washington Jan 4, Georgia's foreign minister said Thursday. 'I am 99 percent sure we will sign the document on January 4,' Grigol Vashadze said at a briefing, adding that the text of the agreement was being finalized.