Putin accuses Georgia of genocide

Press TV
Sunday, Aug 10, 2008

Russian Premier Vladimir Putin arrived in the capital of North Ossetia, and called Georgia’s acts in South Ossetia a species of “genocide”.

While in Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia, Putin said, “The actions of the Georgian leadership in South Ossetia are a crime and foremost they are a crime against their own people because a deadly blow has been delivered to the territorial integrity of Georgia, which brings massive damage to its national identity.”

Putin continued, “It’s hard to imagine after all that had happened and after all that is still happening they’ll be able to convince South Ossetia to be part of Georgia.”

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The impact of what he saw led him to call for an investigation into alleged acts of genocide by Georgian forces during their offensive against South Ossetia, AFP reported.

Putin told President Dmitry Medvedev in comments that were broadcast on Sunday on Russian television that the incidents that were described by the refugees, “lie beyond the framework of understanding of military actions.”

He continued by saying, “In my opinion they are already elements of some kind of genocide of the Ossetian people. I think it would be correct if you instruct the military prosecutor to document all such incidents.”

In response to Putin’s statement, Medvedev said that he would issue the order and vowed to bring criminal charges against those who were responsible.

He had originally arrived in Vladikavkaz to hold talks with evacuees and officials and had changed his travel plans in order to see at first hand what was being done to assist the war refugees from South Ossetia, Russia Today reported.

Putin also discussed an aid package to help North Ossetia cope with the influx of refugees by announcing that the Russian government was planning to assign about USD 400m for the reconstruction of South Ossetia.

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5 Responses to “Putin accuses Georgia of genocide”

1. dr w Says:
   August 10th, 2008 at 12:48 pm

   Whatever criticisms some may levy against Russia, at least Russia has competent leadership. And not nearly as evil as America’s either.

   Well, I guess we get what we deserve.

2. hank Says:
   August 10th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

   i really want to hear alex’s anlysis of all this. i missed fridays show. alex please give your best on monday to describe whats really happening. i cant stand mainstream media lies..whats really going on here? is putin the good guy? the bad guy? what? is it over the pipeline and oil? or orchestrated by the big banks?

3. Mike Knows Says:
   August 10th, 2008 at 8:35 pm

   Bravo Russia!
   I’m glad that there is at least 1 country left in the world who has the guts to save the world. Russia’s actions send a clear message to the west that they are not going to tolerate the lying new world order any more. The west better think twice about their attack plans for Iran.. they cannot beat Russia or China or Iran. God bless Russia for putting it’s foot down and hopefully they can put a stop to this soon. The 10,000 elites at the top need to be exposed and arrested, and the world is hoping that Russia exposes them all.
   We need Global peace, and the only way to get it will be to go after the people at the top. All people financing the war machine need to be locked up for life.. death would be too good for them.. Let them live and lock them up so that they can spend the rest of their lives repenting for what they have done to the world.
   The people of the world want the truth, not the lies spread by the media… nobody believes the mainstream media any more.

4. max Says:
   August 10th, 2008 at 9:38 pm

   Genocide is exactly what it is. Killing over 2000 people in a couple days, civilians include elderly and children is genocide. Just another day to these people.

5. Rob Says:
   August 10th, 2008 at 11:24 pm

   I just saw a UTube video clip of an American from Florida who is vacationing in Ossetia when the Georgian invasion and war crimes began. He confirms what Putin is saying, that Georgian military forces were/are committing war crimes.

   http://www.russiatoday.ru/news/news/28788/video