Georgian-Russian Dialogue on Post-August War Challenges
The August 2008 war between Russia and Georgia, and the subsequent recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Moscow, has transformed the nature of regional conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia - turning them from predominantly inter-ethnic conflicts into an inter-state conflict between Russia and Georgia. This has significantly complicated the conflict-resolution process. With the exception of the Geneva discussions there is no regular expert-level mechanism in which Georgian and Russian representatives can generate ideas for addressing security, economic, humanitarian and political issues related to the unresolved conflicts in Georgia.
It is for these reasons that Senior Fellow Oksana Antonenko is leading a project examining the future of Georgian-Russian relations in the aftermath of the August 2008 war. The initiative, entitled ‘Georgian-Russian Dialogue on Post- August War Challenges’ is supported by the European Commission and aims to promote informal Georgian-Russian discussion through the organisation of three dialogue meetings. The project will establish a network of contacts among opinion-formers from both Russia and Georgia.
This IISS project is supported by an extensive network that the institute has developed over the last 15 years. This includes both Russian and Georgian experts, academics, NGOs and media representatives. The IISS has had experience in conducting Track Two and Track One–and-a-Half meetings. Between 2004-2006, the IISS facilitated Track Two discussions between Georgian and South Ossetian representatives, including senior officials and experts. These meetings generated many practical ideas including the adoption of the restitution law, initiatives on police cooperation and economic rehabilitation.
This webpage offers a resource for all those interested in the August 2008 conflict and its aftermath, by providing links to all major publications produced to date by governments, independent experts and NGOs. It also includes links to key documents, including the EU-commissioned report and the chronologies of Georgian-Russian relations (since 2004), as well as the key developments in the Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-South Ossetian conflicts (since 2004). The webpage also includes links to, and information about, all key international bodies which are currently engaged in conflict-management and conflict-transformation processes.
We are grateful to the European Commission for funding this resource and the IISS facilitated Georgian-Russian Dialogue project.
