The war between Russia and Georgia caught most of the world by surprise but it is a conflict that has long been brewing – and one that is part of a larger drama. The bigger context is Russia's attempt to regain the influence it enjoyed during the years of the Cold War, and the hurdles that stand in the way of projecting its identity as a unified, sovereign nation.
The Poker Game of Power in the Caucasus
Published August 9, 2008
In the war between Georgia and its renegade provinces, Russia is cooking up its own soup.
The Georgian president wanted to finally fuflfill his dream when he sent his troops in last week on a mission against South Ossetia. Ever since Michail Saakaschwili came to power in November 2003 through the "Rose Revolution," his priorities have been clear: more important than economic reform, joining NATO and the fight against corruption were the reconquest of the renegade provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. ...
Excerpt translated from the original German by Ron Hinrichs
Last year openDemocracy Russia editor Zygmunt Dzieciolowski travelled in Georgia and Abkhazia.
I'm not sure I can recommend the Abkhazian house wine that gets served in the bars and restaurants of Sukhumi.
Grantee
Zygmunt is a Polish born journalist, writer and documentary film director.
For the last twenty years his main interests have been Russia and other post soviet republics. He took up journalism in...
