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Russian Not Leaving Georgia According To Russian General

By David Hinz - Posted on August 21st, 2008
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The LATimes reported yesterday that Russian General Anatoly Nogovitsyn, who is the Russian Deputy Chief of General Staff, has admitted that Russia is setting up permanent bases in Georgia, with no intention of abiding by the withdrawal agreed upon with EU President Sarkozy last week.

Nogovitsyn told reporters that Russia would be setting up 18 permanent checkpoints, eight of which are in Georgian sovereign territory, with no plans for withdrawal.

"The president ordered us to stop where we were," he told reporters. "We are not pulling out and pulling back troops behind this administrative border into the territory of South Ossetia."

The actions taken by Russia in invading Georgia have many fearing a return of the Cold War, as Russia attempts to re-exert influence over the former Soviet Bloc nations surrounding it.

As a result of the Russian invasion of Georgia, neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan have begun to experience shortages as imports have become difficult because of the Russian presence.

NATO nations have begun re-evaluating the introduction of former Soviet bloc nations into that organization. Previous resistance to their integration into the alliance has been lessened as a result of the Russian invasion.

Russian attempts at the UN to force Security Council ratification of the Russian peace plan have met with resistance from the United States. Western attempts to force a Russian withdrawal have been blocked by Russian veto power on the Security Council. No substantive UN action appears imminent.

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