Georgia (Country threat level - 4):

August 12, 2008 by Tim McDowell.

On 12 August 2008 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered a stop to military action in Georgia. Medvedev stated that Georgia had been punished and security had been established for peacekeepers and civilians within South Ossetia. Medvedev later called for Georgian forces to move to their pre-conflict positions and for an agreement to be signed; however, Russia continues to refuse negotiations with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who Russian officials have said should step down. Saakashvili has responded with skepticism to the announcement and has also called for a deal to be signed. Russian officials have questioned a plan supported by Saakashvili, which would involve a Russian-Georgian peacekeeping force and monitoring by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), stating that Georgian peacekeepers could not be stationed in the separatist region of South Ossetia given the recent events. Following Russia’s announcement, approximately 50,000 Georgians gathered on Tbilisi’s Rustaveli Avenue in a show of unity.Despite talk of a ceasefire, shootings and other violent incidents — including the bombing of three villages — continue to be reported. Russian forces allegedly bombed a television tower and city square in the town of Gori on the morning of 12 August. The day before, there were conflicting reports regarding the status of several cites, including Gori and Poti, which Georgians claim Russian forces had entered while Russia denied the charges. Separatist forces in Abkhazia have also continued their assault in the upper Kodori Gorge, which separates the separatist region from Georgia and is controlled by Georgian forces.

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