the tagliavini report (summary)
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The Tagliavini Report (Summary)
Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia (IIFFMCG) Published: 30 September 2009
The Tagliavini Report, officially the “Report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia (IIFFMCG),” was published on September 30, 2009. It is an independent report commissioned by the European Union to investigate the origins and course of the 2008 Russo-Georgian War.
Key Findings and Conclusions
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The Outbreak of Hostilities: The report concludes that the war was started by a large-scale Georgian military operation against the city of Tskhinvali and surrounding areas on the night of August 7-8, 2008. However, it emphasizes that this was the “culminating point of a long period of increasing tensions, provocations and incidents.”
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Russian Provocations: The report notes that Russia had been engaging in a long-term policy of “creeping annexation” of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, including the mass conferral of Russian citizenship and the deployment of non-peacekeeping military forces in the regions prior to the conflict.
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Violations of International Law: The report finds that all sides—Georgian, Russian, and South Ossetian forces—committed violations of international humanitarian law. It specifically criticizes Georgia’s use of cluster munitions and Russia’s disproportionate counter-attack.
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Ethnic Cleansing: The report finds no evidence to support Georgia’s claims of genocide by Russia. However, it does find that South Ossetian forces, with the inaction of Russian troops, carried out a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Georgians in South Ossetia.
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Shared Responsibility: The report assigns responsibility to both sides. While it states that Georgia’s attack was not justified under international law, it also details a long list of Russian provocations and violations of international law that contributed to the outbreak of the conflict.
The Tagliavini Report is a critical source for understanding the complexities of the 2008 war and its aftermath. It provides a detailed and nuanced analysis that avoids assigning sole blame to any one party.