In August 2008, a five-day war breaks out between Russia and Georgia. Russia intervenes militarily in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two Georgian separatist regions, and permanently occupies them.
The Tagliavini Report
The European Union commissions an independent investigation led by Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini. The report, published in 2009, establishes that:
- Georgia "fired the first shot" by starting military operations on the night of August 7-8
- But Russia had prepared the ground by distributing Russian passports to residents of the separatist regions ("passportization")
- Russian troops present as "peacekeepers" exceeded agreed limits
- The Russian military response was disproportionate and extended well beyond the conflict zones
- Russia violated international law by recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia
Consequences
Russia still maintains military bases in both regions today. About 20% of Georgian territory remains under Russian occupation. This pattern — Russian-speaking minorities, passports, "peacekeepers", military intervention — would repeat in Ukraine in 2014.