Western observers begin pulling out of Georgia; fears of new war grow

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 AP source: Georgia says Russia war crimes citedWASHINGTON — Georgia claims a report commissioned by the European Union concludes that Russian troops were responsible for ethnic cleansing during last year's war with Georgia. A Georgian official briefed by an EU investigator on the report's findings said Tuesday that the report also concludes that some Russian combat troops crossed into Georgian territory before the start of hostilities on Aug.

September 15th, 2009 Medvedev not ruling out run in 2012MOSCOW — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says he hasn't ruled out running for a second term in 2012. Questions about whether he will run have swirled since his predecessor and mentor Vladimir Putin indicated last week that he was also interested in running for another term.

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 6th, 2009 Georgia, Russia step back from fears of a new warTBILISI, Georgia — Despite rising tensions and slashing rhetoric as the first anniversary of the Russian war approaches, top officials in Tbilisi and Moscow downplay the likelihood of renewed fighting — but for deeply different reasons. The deputy chief of Russia's general staff says Georgia is too weak after the war that devastated its military and caused an estimated $1 billion damage to the struggling country.

July 27th, 2009 BRUSSELS - Unarmed European Union (EU) ceasefire monitors will stay in Georgia until at least September 2010 in a bid to keep the peace between the country, its breakaway regions and Russia, EU foreign ministers agreed Monday. The 27-member bloc "has decided to extend the mandate of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) for another 12 months until Sep 14, 2010," read a joint statement approved at a meeting of EU foreign ministers here Monday.

July 26th, 2009 Medvedev chides NATO over Georgia, UkraineMOSCOW — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Sunday NATO is beginning to realize that Georgia and Ukraine should not be "dragged" into the alliance. "The understanding that these respected states are not ready to make this sort of decision and that the alliance is not ready to absorb them is gradually understood," Medvedev said in remarks televised by NTV television.

July 24th, 2009 Medvedev: US need not abandon Ukraine or GeorgiaMOSCOW — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said U.S. efforts to mend relations with Moscow need not be made at the expense of Washington's ties to Ukraine and Georgia.

July 23rd, 2009 Georgia asks Biden for weapons, US won't commitTBILISI, Georgia — Georgia's president asked U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday for advanced U.S.

July 23rd, 2009 Georgia to ask Biden for weapons, observersTBILISI, Georgia — Georgia's president asked U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday for advanced U.S.

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 20th, 2009 Adviser: Georgian President to announce reformsTBILISI, Georgia — Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is to announce a series of democratic reforms two days before a visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, an adviser to Saakashvili told the Associated Press on Monday.

June 5th, 2009 A sample Friday menu for Georgia inmatesA sample Friday menu for prisoners in Georgia, who are now getting only two meals that day as the state tries to save money: Breakfast: Scrambled eggs Grits Corn Muffins Bran cereal Pineapple beverage Margarine Coffee Milk Dinner: Chicken and biscuits Turnip greens Tossed salad Vinegar and oil dressing Mashed potatoes Spice cake Iced tea Source: Georgia Department of Corrections

May 6th, 2009 TBILISI - NATO started an exercise in Georgia Wednesday despite Russia's fierce criticism and following a revolt at a military base outside the capital Tuesday. Russia has criticised the drills, to run until June 1, as a provocation in the light of the brief war last August, when Moscow sent troops to repel Georgia's attack on South Ossetia.

April 22nd, 2009 Georgian protests get reinforcement from provincesTBILISI, Georgia — Thousands of opposition supporters from Georgia's provinces have come to the capital to join the protesters aiming to force President Mikhail Saakashvili to step down. A convoy of some 600 cars, minibuses and buses loaded with opposition backers from western Georgia poured into Tbilisi on Wednesday evening.