Mikheil Saakashvili to Furnish Proof against Russian Aggression

http://www.geotimes.ge/index.php?m=home&newsid=13884
Mikheil Saakashvili, the president of Georgia, will furnish proof against Russian aggression at the session of provisional parliamentary commission investigating August events.

The president of Georgia made the following statement at a joint briefing with the Prime Minister of Denmark held in presidential residence in Avlabari.

As the president of Georgia underlined the operation of the commission confirms that there is democracy in the country, as the establishment of such commission is unimaginable in post-Soviet and in many Caucasus countries; and remarked that the commission is operating in live broadcasting regime and all the acute questions are asked and answered in live air.

‘It is the democracy of Georgia. It is the difference between Georgia and Russia.’ – Saakashvili declared.

Mikheil Saakashvili said that it is obvious for everybody who invaded and whose population is IDPs. Georgia is the victim of the conflict.

Mikheil Saakashvili, the president of Georgia, is expected to appear before the commission today at 16:00pm.

Russian army bombs Tskhinvali

Russian politician gives up haircuts and hygiene for recession

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/10384

Last time we checked in with the reliably buffoonish Russian ultra-nationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky, he was engaging in fisticuffs with his political rivals on live TV. But despite his surly temperment, corruption, and overt racism, Zhirinovsky’s might still mean well after all. Check out the personal finance advice he gave in an interview with RIA-Novosti (via Johnson’s Russia List):

“I have been thrifty. I am not having my hair cut. My hair has already grown longer than ever. I only shave every other day. I eat very little. I never go out. I never invite anyone over to my place. I don’t buy presents for anyone and I am asking people not to buy anything for me. I am not travelling anywhere,” he said.

RUSSIAN and OSETIAN SOLDIERS LOOTING IN GEORGIA

Sarkozy forever? EU uneasy on leadership bid

By Paul Taylor reuters.com

Not content with a temporary role as first consul, Nicolas Sarkozy wants to be emperor of Europe. That, at least, is the way it looks to many of his EU partners.

The energetic French president has relished his term in the European Union’s rotating presidency so much — playing fireman during the Georgia war and the global financial crisis — that he is loath to cast off the mantle at midnight on December 31.

His aides are working actively on ways to perpetuate his European leadership into 2009 and beyond, using the euro zone, NATO, the new Mediterranean Union, Middle East diplomacy and a continuing mediation role with Russia and Georgia as levers.

Georgian, Polish Leaders’ Convoy Allegedly Shot At

The presidents of Georgia and Poland said they encountered gunfire while attempting to visit a Russian checkpoint near the South Ossetian border on Sunday.

From Russia With Loathing

By CATHY YOUNG The New York Times

SHORTLY before the presidential election, at a discussion about Russian-American relations I attended in Cambridge, Mass., speakers from both countries voiced the hope that the election of Barack Obama would signal the renewal of a beautiful friendship. These hopes were chilled the day after Mr. Obama won. In an address to the Russian Parliament, President Dmitri Medvedev welcomed President-elect Obama with a threat to deploy Russian missiles on the Polish border if the United States put anti-missile systems in Eastern Europe. While some conciliatory signals followed, it seems clear that the Kremlin intends to keep the “new cold war” going.

VIDEO: Georgia, Russia stand accused

Nov. 20 – Amnesty International is calling for an investigation into alleged human rights abuses blamed on both sides in the recent conflict between Georgia and Russia.

Just over three months after the short war ended, the non-governmental organisation has published a report claiming that more than 20,000 Georgians are unable to return to their homes in South Ossetia. The group is accusing all parties involved of failing to take the necessary measures to protect their civilians during the conflict.

Basmah Fahim reports.

http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUS12272446027._CH_.2400

Bill could hasten Putin’s return as president

An amendment extending the president’s term is set to pass in the Duma this week.
By Fred Weir | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor

Moscow – A series of constitutional changes that critics allege are meant to consolidate one-party rule and perhaps pave the way for Vladimir Putin’s early return to the presidency are set to pass the Kremlin-dominated State Duma early this week.

In a stunning demonstration of the Kremlin’s control over Russia’s political process, the first-ever amendments to the country’s 1993 constitution were suggested by President Dmitry Medvedev in a Nov. 5 speech, then crammed through their first reading in the Duma on Friday.

Georgia calls for independent war probe

Georgia calls for independent war probe

Moscow and the West  georgiandaily.com

Georgia’s U.N. ambassador called Monday for an independent international investigation to determine whether Georgia or Russia started the war in South Ossetia in August that badly damaged ties between Moscow and the West.

Russia and Georgia blame each other for launching the five-day war in the separatist Georgian region of South Ossetia. But recent media reports quoted observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as casting doubt about Georgia’s claim that it responded to aggression by Russian-backed separatists.

Moscow’s Opposition to Dual Citizenship within Russia Limits Return of Circassians

WINDOW ON EURASIA
Paul Goble georgiandaily.com
Kuressaare, November 17 – The Russian government’s opposition to dual citizenship for those living within the Russian Federation, as opposed to those living outside its borders, is preventing a significant number of Circassians abroad from returning to their historic homeland in the North Caucasus, according to the president of the International Circassian Association.

At a meeting in Cherkessk last week, Kazbulat Dzamikhov said that relatively few of the more than five million Circassians living abroad are interested in returning home not only because they are relatively well integrated where they live now but because they would not want to give up their current citizenship in exchange for Russian citizenship alone.

Human Rights: Russia used cluster bombs on Georgian civilian

Russia’s crumbling economy provides stiffest test yet for autocratic leader

By Adrian Blomfield in Moscow www.telegraph.co.uk

Subjected to more than a century of propaganda masquerading as news, Russians often seem to live in a different reality from the rest of us

And sure enough, at a time when their country is locked in its worst financial crisis in a decade, they are more optimistic about the economy than they have ever been. According to opinion polls, 57 per cent reckon it is flourishing, up from 53 per cent in July.

Russia builds ties in United States’ backyard

georgiandaily.com

President Dmitry Medvedev is to visit Venezuela, where President Hugo Chavez has been cultivating stronger military and economic relations with Russia. Stops in Brazil and Cuba are also planned.

Reporting from Bogota, Colombia — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev plans to travel this month to Venezuela, Brazil and Cuba to strengthen regional ties, a tour that underscores a foreign policy challenge close to home that awaits the Obama administration.

Europe wilts as Russia rises

William Hague   www.guardian.co.uk

Byagreeing to trade talks with Russia before it observes the terms of the Georgia peace deal, Europe is enfeebling itself

Tomorrow, EU heads of government will resume talks with Russia on a new EU partnership agreement. Both the EU and Russia would find it useful, but it is vital to neither for a good deal of trade and dialogue to continue. Yet this decision is of enormous symbolic importance.

Restarting talks effectively means a return to business as usual between Europe and Russia – the lightest of slapped wrists for Russian aggression. That is a major strategic error whose significance will be noted not just by Russia and its neighbours, but around the world.

Russian Musical Chairs

By George H. Wittman The American Spectator

Vladimir Putin must be given a great deal of credit for his dedication to the rule of law. He has gone to

considerable trouble to have his legal fixer, Dmitry Medvedev, come

up with the brilliant idea of amending the Russian constitution so the presidency could be extended from four to six years. Harvard Law School, eat your heart out! The amendment concept was introduced during President Medvedev’s first state-of-the-nation speech last week.