How not to lose the peace in South Ossetia
18:17 05/08/2010
© AFP/ Str
On August 8, 2010 it will be two years since Georgia tried to solve the South Ossetian issue by force. Now, looking at those events through the prism of time, we can conclude that Russia stopped the aggression, prevented a genocide of the Ossetian people and strengthened Russia's geostrategic positions in the Caucasus. In other words, it has won the war. But will it be able to win the peace?
When the hostilities ended, Russia made efforts to help war-ravaged South Ossetia, allocating considerable funds for these purposes. The Russian leadership made a series of steps to stabilize the social and economic situation in the region and, as a result, to strengthen the young state. But the current state of affairs raises doubts whether the allocated funds are being spent effectively. Concerned about such a turn of events, the Kremlin is beginning to clamp stiff controls over the reconstruction process, encountering both concealed and open resistance.