A Russian Perspective

Forging Peace in the Caucasus

Author(s): Sergei Markedonov
Editor(s): Jeronim Perovic, Robert Orttung, Matthias Neumann, Heiko Pleines, Hans-Henning Schröder
Series: Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
Issue: 40
Pages: 5-9
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen
Publication Year: 2008

Although frequently described as frozen conflicts, the situations in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which seek independence from Georgia, are in fact deteriorating quickly. The precedent of Kosovo heartened the leaders of the break-away regions and spurred Georgia to take action to reintegrate its lands. In reaction to the West's recognition of Kosovo's independence, Russia began to institutionalize its support for South Ossetia and Abkhazia and formally lifted trade sanctions against them. This article argues that helping to unfreeze the conflicts is a bad policy for Russia. Instead, Russia would be better off trying to stabilize the conflict areas and only discussing the status of the various territories once their economic situation is secure.

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