We're in Armenia!

This is a summary Brenden wrote up about the situation:
Quick background: Georgia has two breakaway regions: Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Both were relatively independent in the USSR time, and then when Georgia emerged in 1991, and there was fighting in both regions until 1994, when a ceasefire emerged with 'Russian enforcement' (IE, Russian troops entered Georgia and made everyone put
away their toys). Russian troops have been in both regions since 1994.

This situation developed very, very, very quickly. Basically, last week there were sporadic cross-border firefights (which, frankly, is common). However, the situation went bad when the Ossetians began to shell Georgian villages. Georgia decided to respond, and deployed troops across the 'ceasefire' line into Ossetia (NOT Abkhazia). The Georgians enjoyed quick success, and ended up taking the Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali. Then Russia decided to get involved. Russia sent at least 150 tanks and the associated infantry units down from North Ossetia (which is in Russia proper) and engaged the Georgians. The Georgians were pushed out of Ossetia, and then the situation went really bad.

Concurrent to the ground fighting, the Russians began aerial attacks on targets all across Georgia, and on many targets nowhere near the conflict zone. Civilian targets, including food warehouses, were hit. Cell phone towers especially were targeted. Hence, cell phone coverage went down over large portions of the country.

The Russians eventually began to emerge from the borders of the conflict zone, and have taken at least 2 Georgian sites; Senaki, a military base by the Abkhaz border, and Gori (at least the main highway), my old training site. It has been extremely discouraging to see places I know with bomb damage, and know that I have friends who
cannot leave safely. Not good. Stoes across Georgia experienced panic buying, and many do not have goods in stock.

Georgia recognized the impossibility of the situation and began to give the 'we give up, please stop shooting' signals. The Russians have seemingly disregarded all attempts at Georgian ceasefire. That take us pretty much up to today - Russia has occupied Georgian territory outside of the conflict zones, and seems likely to take more territory.

Overall, Georgia is screwed. They have no reinforcements from the west coming, and have to entirely depend on diplomatic pressures from the west. We have some hope still, but will entirely depend on how the Russians respond to international pressures.

Georgia's economic situation is pretty bad now - this war reverses decades of progress with tourism and foreign direct investment. Money is fleeing Georgia, and I'm not sure if Russian bombs or the capital flight will do more damage. We'll have to see what happens. I remain hopeful - but I'm in Armenia.

- Brenden


As Brenden mentioned above, we're safely relocated to Armenia. Discussions will be made sometime in the next 2 weeks about what will happen to us--whether we go back to Georgia or to the U.S. It all depends on what Russia does next...

Thanks so much for all your prayers. Knowing that there are people praying for us and for Georgia and the Georgian people helps us keep calmer. We are doing fine, but we're worried about everyone back in Georgia.

- Carissa