Today, the 8 May 2009 marks the 64th anniversary of my country’s (i.e. Norway’s) liberation from five years’ German wartime occupation, reminding us how fragile a country’s freedom actually is – of which we are constantly informed, through perpetual global unrest.
We were all shocked and appalled as Russian forces poured into Georgian South Ossetia – and well into the very heart of the country – last August, threatening to occupy the young nation in the long haul.
Allegations would have it that Georgian forces themselves provoked the invasion in their search for South Ossetian insurgents, that Georgia’s president Mikheil Saakashvili indeed wanted the invasion, as a means to prove a point – the urgency of a Georgian NATO membership, perhaps. Whatever the case: South Ossetia remains Georgian territory,which entails a violation on Russia’s part, of Georgia’s internationally acknowledged sovereignty. So much for indisputable facts we’d be hard pressed to contradict. And how can you not sympathise with the offended president? I know I did.
Bur that was then.
Seeing how civil dismay in Georgia has increased gradually since, and how president Saakashvili himself came out during these last days’ disturbances, you just can’t help noticing how increasingly similar to his old counterpart, Vladimir Putin, he appears to be – in behaviour.
Bearing last year’s accusations in mind, that Georgia’s provocation was indeed intended, a pattern is about to emerge, very clearly demonstrated in Saakashvili’s obviously staged rebuke of the overly ashamed troops in the Mukhrovani military base, whence an alleged attempt at a coup d’etat was instigated. Alleged being the key word, as Saakashvili’s proofs appeared too numerous, much too prepared, included, even video footage:
Hmm… A very carefully directed cry for help from the president in his hour of need, as civil support plummets, don’t you find?
Saakashvili may find it a lot harder to earn sympathy this time, though. He had George W. Bush jr., an avid supporter, to lean on last year, for one. Add to that the European countries’ lowered patience with Saakashvili’s obvious misconduct. If it hadn’t been for fear of letting Russia dictate NATO decisions, the NATO exercises currently taking place in Georgia, planned ahead of last year’s Russian invasion, might never have taken place.
I don’t want to come across as overly anxious, but having said that – in light of my country’s 64th liberation anniversary – there’s every reason to worry over Russia’s growing hostility towards the West. But that’s a different cup of tea altogether, which I’ll make sure to revisit on an appropriate occasion. However, from the archives:
- US-Russian talks on nuclear reductions – 1 April 2009
- Russia flexing muscles – 12 October 2008
- Freezing cold – 22 September 2008
- Should we prepare for a Soviet reunion? – iNorden, 16 August 2008
- Hello, cold war 2 – iNorden, 11 August 2008
- A dangerous neighbourhood – iNorden, 10 August 2008
- Nordic Countries Remain Indifferent to Russian Election – iNorden, 3 March 2008
- You.have.to.get.rid.of.that.man! – iNorden, 14 December, 2007
- Sweden Prepared to Defend Norway – iNorden, 6 December 2007
- Russisk splitt og hersk – (in Norwegian) 25 March 2009
- NATO: Gjensidig forsvar eller verdenspoliti? – (in Norwegian) 17 March 2009
Oh yes, I’m a certified warmonger, but honestly; continuing more or less without an effective defence, as Norway currently does, has me slightly worried.
Meanwhile, a happy 8 May to my fellow countrymen.
Late edit: Before long (a day upon publishing this post) the Russians were at it again (in Norwegian).
Photo: Georgia’s president Mikheil Saakashvili. Photographer: Sebastian Zwez/Wikimedia Commons
what kind of provocation u talk about? have u seen movie directed by our (Russian Director) Nekrasov about the war in Georgia? have u read Heidi Tagliavins Resolution? i guess not
.let me remind u what resolution says: 1 Russian get into Georgian Territory before than 8, and 7 agust they were there in 3 or 4 agust. Russian troops were burgling and robbing around Georgian Villages… they were stealing toilets and so on.. torturing Georgians as awlays. just ethnic cleansing. and then they started to move to atack Georgian capital. so what is surprising?! Georgia defended his own country and people. what should they do? wish happy invading? i guess if u were a president u wouldnt atack russians… of course everyone is afraid of us. u would even guide them to Capital. u know what i cant understand?!! who starts WAR. the One who Rushes into another Countrys Territory and does Ethnic cleansing silently or The one Who has to shoot First only because to protect his People and Country. ANSWER ME PLEASE!. so this is what u call Provocation Of Georgians? lol its funny… im ashamed being Russian. what we learned from Monglos is inviding countrys. in Caucasus there several republic invaided by us. noone remembers ofcourse… DAGESTAN, INGUSHIA, North OSSETIA, YABARDO, CHERKEZIA, … does anyone knows the number of dead chechens?
Dear Vladimir,
Please understand that this blog post merely expresses a flicker of doubt. After all, you have to admit that Mr. Saakashvili’s behaviour in the above video clip, now sadly removed (one can but wonder why, but I hope you had a chance to see it), appears a little strange, to say the least.
I think it’s fair to say that I was just as appalled as everyone else during those dreadful August 2008 months, which becomes evident if you read my iNorden articles from back then (I apologise for the site’s obvious lack of design and images — the original look was something like this, with a Georgia related story on top, no less):
In other words: I sympathise completely, but that seemingly elaborately edited and prepared video appearance had me wondering. Things aren’t entirely black or 100 percent white, you know — as I’m sure you, being a Russian and all, agree.