It is scary how similar this looks:
In the 1990s, a secession movement supported by the Russian government was initiated in South Ossetia. The intent was to unite the province with Russian North Ossetia.[
5] Georgian actions aimed at returning the region to Tbilisi’s control triggered a conflict in which 2,000 to 4,000 people were killed.[
6] Pursuant to a Russian-brokered ceasefire and agreements concluded in June 1992, Russian, Georgian, and Ossetian peacekeeping units totaling 1,100 men established their camp near Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia.[
7] President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia attempted to increase border control and limit smuggling operations in the region. He also sent police, military, and intelligence personnel into the region. In response, Russia sent several hundred paramilitary elements and reinforced South Ossetian authorities with Russian high-level law enforcement officials.[
8]
Regardless of the different peace plans proposed by Georgian authorities, in November 2006, a popular referendum was held in South Ossetia to reaffirm its independence from Georgia. Ninety-nine percent of voters supported the referendum.[
9] In response, the Russian authorities actively started to grant Russian citizenship to South Ossetians and to issue them Russian passports.
On April 16, 2008, then Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a Decree ordering his Cabinet to establish “special relationships” with the South Ossetian government and to open a representative office of the Russian Foreign Ministry in Tskhinvali.[
10] This act
de facto recognized the independence of South Ossetia from Georgia and was used by the South Ossetian authorities, which were under protection of the Russian forces, as permission to initiate the expulsion of ethnic Georgians from the territory of South Ossetia. On August 1 and 2, 2008, ethnic Georgian villages in the territory of the South Ossetian Autonomous District were bombarded by the South Ossetian paramilitary self-defense force. With the purpose of protecting the population and restoring law and order in South Ossetia, Georgian troops were brought to the territory of this autonomous district on August 7, 2008. The next day, active units of the Russian Armed Forces invaded Georgia, destroying its military, transportation, and economic infrastructure within and outside of the South Ossetian territory. The necessity of defending Russian citizens living in South Ossetia from Georgian military attacks was cited as the justification for Russian actions. After completing the military occupation of the Georgian province of South Ossetia, expelling Georgians and Georgian authorities from the region, and securing the pro-Russian government of South Ossetia, the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, issued
decrees on the recognition of state independence of the Republic of South Ossetia,[
11] raising questions about the possible annexation of this Georgian land by Russia in the future.[
12]
