Document Type : Research Paper

Abstract

Summer 2008 developments in the South Caucasus opened a new chapter in Russia-West relations. Russian invasion of Georgia might have surprised many observers, but for those who had been familiar with the short Post-Cold War history of the region, was an inevitable consequence of Georgian President's (Saakashvili) excesses in agonizing Russia by threatening its internal security, helping Chechen rebellion with military supplies, attempting to get some sort of NATO membership, and embarking upon military invasion of the South Ossetia. Further, American support and some EU Member States' backing for Georgian actions played a great role in the development.
Having said that, to many observers disproportionate Russian military offensive meant as a Soviet style appetite for annexing Abkhazia and the South Ossetia and Russia's re-entering into the military confrontation of Cold-War era. Either way, the recognition of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Russia and inability of NATO and EU to stop Kremlin have been a matter of concern for the West and many regional countries. In this article while this development will be discussed, the attitude of all sides will be dealt with and finally the conclusion will be presented to the readers.