War

19 Posts

•

0 Followers

Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria. Photo: Fond-adygi.ru

Feature Stories

Deserters and the nameless dead: Kabardino-Balkaria and the war in Ukraine

by Dmitriy Pavlov

•6 min read

In the Russian Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, a region with historic ties to Ukraine, the invasion of Ukraine has been met with uneasiness from some, mass desertion by soldiers, legal challenges by those dismissed from the armed forces, and fear in the families of those sent to the front. When Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in the early hours of 24 February, armed forces had been gathering on the borders for almost a year, establishing bases, moving military units, and conducting train

2008 August War

Voice from the Georgian–South Ossetian conflict | ‘There is nothing worse than war’

by Volodymyr Soboliev

•5 min read

T G, 70 years old, Zardiantkari ‘When they started setting houses on fire, and burned down my cousins’ houses, we were forced to run away. We were afraid that they would burn us all. So we ran.’ Cost of Conflict: Untold Stories — Georgian-Ossetian Conflict in Peoples’ Lives is a series of personal recollections from people directly affected by the conflict who continue to pay a price today. They are a continuation of George Mason University’s collection of analytical articles, Cost of

Abkhazia

Voice | ‘My family and I have been made refugees twice’

by Lana Kokaia

•6 min read

The Kodori Valley, populated mainly by Svans, was the only corner of Abkhazia under Georgian Government control before the August 2008 War. According to the Tbilisi-based Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, around 2,860 people lived in the valley before the war, all of whom fled their homes. Only 55 families have returned; Raisa Khachvani, 62, is still waiting to do so. ‘Imagine you lose everything, you no longer have anything, and are starting life from scratch. All this

2008 August War

Cautious optimism: Abkhazia’s Russian recognition ten years on

by Volodymyr Soboliev

•6 min read

In August, Abkhazia marked ten years since Russian recognition. Despite only four other states having followed suit, Abkhazians remain optimistic and blame Georgia for impeding their aspirations. Russia, Syria, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru — a grouping of states that share almost nothing in common. Lying in almost opposite corners of the globe, it’s hard to think of a uniting factor between them. There is one place, however, where the flags of each of these countries fly proudly side-by

2008 August War

Opinion | Georgia should shake up its conflict policy, and recognise the Abkhazians and Ossetians as sides

by Paata Zakareishvili

•8 min read

More than 25 years have passed since the beginning of Georgia’s armed conflicts — more than enough time for Georgian society and the political elite to assess what happened and why. It’s important that we evaluate where our progress stands in solving these conflicts, and whether we, as a country, need to reevaluate our aims and revise our policy — whether the achieved result are acceptable or not and if not, what we can change. Even after 25 years, it’s clear that none of the parties in

2008 August War

Voice from the Georgian–South Ossetian conflict | ‘What has always been and will always be is the hatred towards armed people on the other side’

by Volodymyr Soboliev

•6 min read

A D, 34 years old, Tskhinval ‘It was in November 1989. I was seven. I remember it was a gloomy day. The whole town was alert. I was little and could not understand anything. What I would hear was that some Georgians came shooting. And then everything started spinning: a blockade began, we would hear that they burnt a village and then another, kidnapped some people and shot some others. Barricades started popping in the town and cross-shootings followed.’ Cost of Conflict: Untold St

The Nagorno-Karabakh line of contact. Photo: Seymur Kazimov/OC Media.

2016 April War

In pictures: Azerbaijan’s advance into Nagorny Karabakh, two years on

by Seymur Kazimov

•3 min read

On the night of 2 April 2016, tensions on the Nagorny Karabakh line of contact erupted. Following four days of intense fighting, several strategic heights surrounding the Armenian-controlled village of Talish, including multiple Armenian positions, came under Azerbaijan’s control. According to Azerbaijan, the heights were being used to shell the nearby Azerbaijani village of Tap Garagoyunlu, and frequent ceasefire violations posed a threat to the city of Naftalan and several other vil