Dear --- !

I am sorry I was not able to respond on your letter earlier. Writing this letter took a lot of my time, energy and strength. I know it will be difficult to read it, but if you manage it, may be it will “open your eyes” once more.

I think you understand that countries are fighting not only with weapons; most sevear can be the propaganda war, the war of information. Now Russia is fighting forceful spreading all over the world by internet its “version” what is going on in Georgia, the “another view on the war”. The KGB was and still is (under the other name though) one of the most clever and experienced (in falsification) institution in the world, so no wonder that it “makes sense”. But I don't' think that Chosudovsky is a reliable source of truth, and especially Dimitry Rogozin, who is almost a persona non grata in Georgia, who hates this country.

What is really going in Georgia?

It's true that Georgia strives to become a member of NATO, so what? Most of European countries are its members. It would guarantee peace and stability in this small country, which has such a huge and brutal neighbor. When during Shevardnadze time Russians bombed the border of Georgia and than shamelessly rejected it, Shevardnadze turned to the US hoping to protect his small country. Georgia is a “US protectorate” - as Rogozin states. I know many Georgians who don't like it, are against the US influence on Georgia, against the US politics. But unfortunately there was no other choice.

There are several conditions for the membership in NATO; one is to have strong military forces. The US which of course has its interests in Georgia (I mean its geopolitical situation), helped Georgia to build up such forces, trained our soldiers, etc. Russia can't reconcile himself to this. It made Russia furious. If Georgia becomes a member of NATO Russia looses its influence in Caucasus. To lay obstacle of this membership is to keep permanent conflict situation in different regions of Georgia (Abkhazia, Ossetia) and to decoy Georgia into the war. It was the first reason of this war.

The second was BTG pipeline. Russia can't reconcile himself to the loose of billions of dollars, if pipes for oil from Azerbaijan cross the territory of Georgia and not the territory of Russia. Beside it, there was almost ready another project of the gas pipeline, which would have been the alternative source of gas for Europe. It means that Russian company “Gasprome” - one of the wealthiest company in the world - would have lost not only hundreds of billion dollars, but Russia would have lost its influence on Europe and its dream to become super state, so called “Derjava” who could have make terms to all countries it supplies with gas as the only source of it. Russia could not tolerate it. If Georgia is not a peaceful country, nobody will invest money in this project of alternative gas pipeline.

The third reason of what is happening now in Georgia is the personal revenge of Putin, who can't forgive Saakashvili, who named him “Lilliputian.” (it is definitely inadmissible to offence the President of another country). According to the French journalist during the dialog between Putin and Sarkozi, Russian President kept saying - Georgia must be punished. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov acknowledged on August 12 that he had told U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that he wanted President Saakashvili to stand down. So Russian invasion has nothing to do with defense of Ossetians, or “Russian citizens” - as the Russian foreign minister declared.

This war was planned long ago to fulfill all purposes of Russia. It aimed at changing the Georgian authorities, overthrow Saakashvili, occupy and destroy Georgia, its infrastructure, its military bases, its economy, trigger panic and chaos. Such country would have never dreamt to become a member of NATO, or transported Baku oil via its pipeline.

Unfortunately Saakhashvili swallowed the bait. When ossetians shelled Georgian villages and Russian “peacekeepers” showed no reaction, he attacked Tskhinvali. It was a big mistake of course.

But if this attack was unexpected why ossetians few days before this attack took women and children out of the town? Russian forces were in an advanced state readiness. Hundreds of Russian tanks immediately entered the region. There is no way you can mobilize those tanks in such a fast period unless you are ready. (Russians are spreading all over the world, that “Tskhinvali” was completely destroyed. According to the independent source there were 7000 buildings in the town, 700 are destroyed (after Russians bombed Tskhinvaly trying to push Georgian troops out of the city).

Anna Neistat of Human Rights Watch (HRW), who is leading a team investigating the humanitarian damage in South Ossetia, told the Guardian that Russian estimates of 2,000 dead in the conflict were “suspicious.” Russia accuses Georgia of “genocide” of the ossetians. The figure of 2,000 people killed is very doubtful,”- Neistat said- “Our findings so far do not in any way confirm the Russian statistics. On the contrary, the numbers are exaggerated.” She said that Russia's propaganda of deliberately exaggerating number of death toll was triggering revenge against ethnic Georgians in the region.” Even one death is terrible of course. I am just saying that Russians are lying.)

Then everything went according to their plan, their "scenario”. When Russian tanks and warplanes forced Georgians out of Tzxinvali the war must have ended, if they really wanted to “keep peace”. But the Tzxinvali region was just a pretext used by Russia to launch a large scale military aggression against Georgia. Tanks, armored vehicles and several thousand ground troops have been deployed. Russian air strikes have largely targeted military facilities inside Georgia, to completely destroy its armed forces. They bombed all Georgian military bases disposed in different parts of Georgia, far from the conflict zone.

This aggression is carried out by the Russian Black Sea navy, large-scale land operation and air forces. Russians advanced deep into the Georgian territory from breakaway Abkhazia taking control of Senaki - a town about 150 kilometers away from breakaway South Ossetia. Russian airplanes bombed the base and Senaki airport . Many civilians were killed as a result of air strikes by the Russian warplanes. They bombed also Poti port, sank 11 vessels, others blew up. Actually they destroyed the whole Georgian Back See navy. Russian troops placed explosives and blown up a major railway bridge close to town of Kaspi, which was linking east of the country with the west and which is a civilian installation and has nothing to do with the military purposes. Russian aircraft bombed a TV tower in the city of Gori. It's a small town very close to Tbilisi.

Simultaneously, the outskirts of Gori came under heavy artillery fire. A civilian apartment building nearby has been hit. Gori University was also damaged. Dozens of people have been killed. Russian forces destroyed the radar systems of Georgian Border Police. Civilian radar station in 5 kilometers from downtown Tbilisi targeted in an air strike. Martial law was declared on the entire territory of the country. The area close to the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline was targeted with the missile. As many as 50 Russian bombers were reported operating simultaneously over Georgia, targeting civilian populations in cities and villages, as well as radio and telecommunications sites.

Overnight on August 11 the youth summer camp was bombed, fortunately it was empty; young people were already evacuated, but all wooden cottages of this camp were burned down. A repeat air strike was carried out against an aircraft factory, in the suburb of the capital Tbilisi. Sound of two powerful explosions was heard in Tbilisi at 4:40am local time on August 11. A bomb was dropped on the mount of Makhata in Tbilisi targeting a radar station there. President Saakashvili called on the capital city's population not to panic as there was no threat for Tbilisi “at least till tomorrow.”

Can you imagine, to hear this: “If the capital faces any danger you will know it 12 hours before. It is desirable, if we all stay at home.” Prime Minister called on Tbilisi residents to remain calm as there was no reason for panic. “No attack is expected on Tbilisi tonight.”

There was a sense of panic in Tbilisi with some trying to flee the capital triggering huge queues at the patrol stations. I know that I'll come one day in Canada, but not now. I had no fear that night and not a single thought about leaving Tbilisi and Georgia. We learnt later that Russian tanks were in 40 kilometers from Tbilisi and artillery surrounded it. French foreign minister in his meeting with journalists after the Ministerium in NATO said that it's only after their interference Russians decline to attack the capital city.

The attack on Tbilisi offers further evidence that Russia's invasion of Georgia is not about Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The most terrible is that Russian targets are not only the military installations. Many Georgian villages are burned and looted. Numerous peaceful populations killed and injured, children raped not only by Russian soldiers, but also ossetians. Researchers from the Human Rights Watch said they witnessed “terrifying scenes of destruction” and looting by the South ossetian militias in the Georgian villages of the region. The villages were virtually deserted, with the exception of a few elderly and incapacitated people who stayed behind either because they were unable to flee or because they were trying to save their belongings and cattle.

“The remaining residents of these destroyed ethnic Georgian villages are facing desperate conditions, with no means of survival, no help, no protection, and nowhere to go,”- Tanya Lokshina at Human Rights Watch said. Human Rights Watch researchers also saw armed ossetian militia members in camouflage fatigues taking household items - furniture, television sets, heaters, suitcases, carpets, and blankets out of houses in the Georgian villages and loading them into their trucks.

HRW researchers received hundreds of reports of brutal attacks, slaughters and rapes. Some of the targets had been hit by rockets most likely fired from Grad launchers, weapons that should not be used in areas populated by civilians, as they cannot be directed at only military targets and are therefore inherently indiscriminate reported also the foreign observers. used Iskander - SS-26 - short range, earth-to-earth, missiles and also cluster bombs, which by 107 countries are prohibited.

Human Rights Watch said its researchers had uncovered evidence that Russian aircraft dropped cluster bombs in populated areas in Georgia, killing and injuring civilians. On the same day, a cluster strike in the center of the town of Gori killed at least eight civilians, including a Dutch journalist and injured dozens, according to HRW. “Cluster bombs are indiscriminate killers that most nations have agreed to outlaw,” Marc Garlasco, senior military analyst at HRW, said. “Russia's use of this weapon is not only deadly to civilians, but also an insult to international efforts to avoid a global humanitarian disaster of the kind caused by landmines.“

Russian tanks are moving and leaving behind deserted Georgian villages, burned houses and mined fields. Especially terrible are mines with red ribbons, which they are leaving in different places were children can easily reach them.

It is of urgent need to take corpses out from the conflict zone; otherwise dead bodies pose an epidemic threat. Russians didn't allow making a humanitarian corridor. The international Red Cross representative spoke in TV that there are numerous wounded and damaged people needing urgent help, but doctors were not able to provide this help.

We don't have full information about the victims or damage. The number of displaced persons is estimated to be 180,000. Tbilisis is flooded by refugees. They need food and shelter. Public schools and kindergartens are full of people.

Russians caused also an ecological catastrophe in Georgia. Russsian planes were crossing the sky over the Borjomi forest reserve and the fire broke out. Wonderful pine woods are burning. Georgian government tried to do his best, but the fire spread too fast. The Government asked for help other countries. Turkey sent helicopters, but Russians forbade them to enter Georgia. The forest has been burning for few days and nights. Only yesterday Russians allowed the Turkish helicopter to try to extinguish the fire, but more that 220 hectares are already burnt.

“A humanitarian disaster rather than a military victory was an integral part of the scenario. The objective was to destroy” Georgia, “while also inflicting a significant loss of human life”

Not only the US, but also many European countries express their indignation about such an aggressive invasion of Russia in the independent country. French President Nicola Sarkozi offered a six-point ceasefire agreement, which was signed by Saakashvili, Sarkozi and Medvedev on 16 of August. According to this document Russian troops must have started pulling its forces back from the territory of Georgia on Monday.

But days pass and Russian troops and military hardware have not yet launched withdrawal from Georgia. The President of France Sarkozi called Medvedev, asking why Russians are still in Georgia after he signed their withdrawal. The Russian President answered they would leave Georgia on 22 of August. “It didn't take that long for the Russian forces to get in Georgia and it really shouldn't take that long for them to get out,"- Condoleezza Rice said. The Russians don't honor their commitment, don't respect their word.

Today is 22, but Russian troops have showed no sign of pulling out till now. The Georgian police failed to enter into Gori so far, despite earlier agreement with the Russian forces to allow them inside the town. Georgian journalists are not allowed to enter the city. Matyas Eorsi, a Hungarian lawmaker from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), who traveled to the town of Gori, said “after so many promises by President Medvedev about the withdrawal we saw no signal whatever. Gori today is a ghost city. You can hardly see anybody in the streets. For the looted infrastructure it is the Russian Federation that has to bear all responsibility.”

French ambassador to Georgia, Eric Fournier, was stopped for three hours outside Gori by the Russian troops. Above mentioned journalist from Holland was killed with the cluster bomb after the ceasefire agreement was signed. (During these few days of Russian occupation 14 journalists were wounded and three killed).

Instead of moving out of Georgia Russian forces are setting up new checkpoints controlling the major highway linking Georgia's east with the west of the country. Russian soldiers are digging “trenches,” what seemed to be foxholes or tank emplacements in different villages. French PM Kouchner said: We waited twice with dashed hopes for the Russians to respect their word. U.S. Secretary of State is asking of “an explanation for why the Russian president either won't or can't keep his word.”

Many European countries raise voice against Russia now not because they care about small Georgia very much, but because they understand the massage that Russia is sending to the world. They realize what danger can be Russia for them too. (First Presidents who came to Georgia after Russia occupied it were Presidents of Ukraine and Poland.) Those tanks that were taken out of Afghanistan, of Eastern Europe, now are rolling back again into other countries. The whole world sees how Russia replaces rule of law with rule of forces. At the same time it tries to justify its action under the pretext of protecting its citizens in South Ossetia.

It is a Soviet-old tactics. “It is an undisguised aggression accompanied by a mass propaganda war”. Every time big Russia attacks some neighbor it is always blaming a neighbor. There was no one time in history when Russia said that their attack was unprovoked; they always said that it was provoked: it was provoked by Finland; it was provoked by Hungary; it was provoked by Czechoslovakia; it was provoked by Afghanistan; it was provoked by Chechnya.

Saakashvili said Georgia was ready for international investigation to find out what led to the conflict. Georgia filed a lawsuit against Russia in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), claiming Russia, through the separatist authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, violated a convention meant to eliminate racism in a period between 1990 and August, 2008. What Russia did in Abkhazia and is doing now in so called “South Ossetia” is the ethnic cleansing. But its propaganda machine works well and many honest and naïve people in the world believe in their “version” of the war. Unfortunately Roman is among them.

You know my opinion about Saakashvili. He must bear his part of responsibility for this disaster. But “let us be under no illusion” about the real reasons and purposes of this war in Georgia. Somebody sent you an article by Chosudovsky . May be he would be interested in “another view of this war”?

While I was writing this letter the news came that Russians left Gori and started pulling out. But numerous Georgian villages are razed down; many thousand people can't return to their houses, because they are burnt; forests are still burning; blood and tears are shed in my unfortunate, miserable small country. What is its future?

I believe it will stand up, as it was many times in its history. Katholikos-patriarch of Georgian church blessed people, and ended his speech with the words: “God is with us!”