Growing Russian/Georgian Tensions

Russia and Georgia have increased their military presence around the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, disputing the provinces’ potential independence.

Over the past several weeks, Russia has increased its peacekeeping forces in Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The additional troops were sent to the area after Georgia massed an additional 1,500 soldiers and police near the Abkhazia border. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow has to take action to protect Russian passport-holders in both regions. Georgia however, fears direct military aggression from Russia.

Georgia denies any plan of military intervention in either of the upstart regions and officials referred to Russia's tactics as "irresponsible."

Many experts believe Russia is acting out on its threat from earlier this year in which President Vladimir Putin stated if Kosovo was allowed to become an independent nation, it would set a precedent and Abkhazia and South Ossetia should then be provided with the same opportunity for independence.

Tensions between Russia and Georgia have recently increased, despite Moscow lifting economic sanctions against Georgia. Last week, Georgia claims a Russian MiG-29 shot down an unmanned Georgian spy plane. Following this “act of aggression,” Georgia has threatened to block Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization.

This situation is different than last year’s threat of military action by Moscow as a response to the US plan for an Eastern European missile defense shield. In that situation, Putin threatened direct force against its neighbors to protect its borders and interests.