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The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, lays out the Russian government’s take on the war in the Caucasus. Since this is a complicated conflict, with broader consequences than the immediate ones, it is worth knowing how Medvedev’s government wants to present it.

The general idea is that the operation was a reasonable response to Georgian bombardment of South Ossetia, and a necessary protection of Russian citizens. It is indeed true that there are no obvious reasons to support Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili’s decision to move in on South Ossetia. On the other hand it also appears true that the focus on protecting Russian citizens is fairly bogus, as Russian passports have been distributed to Ossetians lately.

An excerpt:

Last Friday, after the world’s leaders had arrived at the Beijing Olympics, Georgian troops launched an all-out assault on the region of South Ossetia, which has enjoyed de facto independence for more than 16 years. The majority of the region’s population are Russian citizens. Under the terms of the 1992 agreement to which Georgia is a party, they are afforded protection by a small number of Russian peacekeeping soldiers. The ground and air attack resulted in the killing of peacekeepers and the death of an estimated 1,600 civilians, creating a humanitarian disaster and leading to an exodus of 30,000 refugees. The Georgian regime refused to allow a humanitarian corridor to be established and bombarded a humanitarian convoy. There is also clear evidence of atrocities having been committed – so serious and systematic that they constitute acts of genocide.

There can be little surprise, therefore, that Russia responded to this unprovoked assault on its citizens by launching a military incursion into South Ossetia. No country in the world would idly stand by as its citizens are killed and driven from their homes. Russia repeatedly warned Tbilisi that it would protect its citizens by force if necessary, and its actions are entirely consistent with international law, including article 51 of the UN charter on the right of self-defence.

As I’ve said before this is a difficult issue to handle. I believe it would be a good thing if the so called peacekeepers would be non-Russians. That would make it more costly for Georgia to provoke new conflicts, while making it harder for a Russian government to extend its sphere of control.

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