The big political story in Europe is the release of the European Union report on last year’s war between Russia and Georgia. Both sides claim a degree of vindication from it.
South Ossetia
Leaked: who’s to blame for war in Georgia?
Officially, it’s equal blame game for the 2008 South Ossetian war, with Georgia opening the initial fire, but Russia responsible for keeping it going, according to leaks from the EU investigation.
Putin builds up military fortress in Abkhazia
Russia will spend nearly A$600 million developing its military presence in the contested region of Abkhazia. Vladimir Putin hopes that Abkhazia will become to Russia what Monaco is to France. A celebrity tax haven?
The Georgian war: one year on
A year after the Georgian war, nearly 30,000 refugees have been unable to return to their homes in the now Russian controlled South Ossetia. It seems unlikely they will ever return.
