UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 002428 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PBTS, PINR, PINS, PNAT, PREL, GG, RS SUBJECT: TFGG01: Russian 
media declares war over - now what? REF: A)MOSCOW 2343, B)MOSCOW 2366, 
C)MOSCOW 2383 D) MOSCOW 2407 

1. (SBU) Summary: The Russian media 
decreased its coverage of the South Ossetian conflict, shifting the 
focus to a post-game analysis of the war. Many media reports examined 
the future of U.S.-Russian relations after the conflict, responding to 
statements by President Bush and other senior USG officials. Several 
outlets have opined that Europe may prove to be a more sympathetic 
partner to Moscow than Washington. The print press offered a wider, more
balanced view of the conflict, including limited criticism of specific 
Russian actions (while remaining convinced that Russia acted correctly.)
Other outlets speculated on the futures of South Ossetia and Abkhazia 
and Georgian president Saakashvili. End Summary.

A defeat for Washington?
------------------------ 

2. (SBU) Most Russian media 
continued to portray the conflict in South Ossetia and Georgia as one 
between Washington and Moscow, with Moscow winning this round, although 
President Bush's statement on sending a humanitarian mission to the 
region was interpreted as a means of supporting Saakashvili rather than 
to alleviate human suffering. Many news outlets saw a chillier 
relationship between the U.S. and Russia in the immediate future. 
Statements by SecDef Gates and Secretary Rice received much play, 
although some newspapers (such as Gazeta, a liberal paper) did note the 
U.S. emphasis against another cold war. Channel One, a state-owned 
broadcaster, ignored such nuances and declared that a "diplomatic war" 
was in effect between Washington and Moscow. 

3. (SBU) Broadcast news and
print emphasized President Medvedev's role as commander-in-chief, 
featuring him in the Kremlin meeting with generals and other 
high-ranking military officers, and announced that he had signed a 
decree authorizing the awarding of medals for combat during the 
conflict.

A place for Europe?
------------------- 

4. (SBU) In light of 
this perceived standoff between the U.S. and Russia, Russian media 
looked to Europe as a possible ally in this "diplomatic war." 
Nezavisimaya Gazeta, a centrist newspaper, predicted increased influence
for France as a result of French President Sarkozy's mediation efforts 
and dismissed any threat to Russia within the EU from the "Tbilisi 
quartet" (Poland and the Baltic States.) Reporting of the meeting 
between Russian President Medvedev and German Chancellor Merkel, the 
pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestiya declared Russia to have more "solid and 
predictable" relations with Europe than the U.S. Mikhail Leontyev, a 
popular anti-American television political pundit, saw Turkey as NATO's 
"weakest link" and felt the South Ossetian conflict might be a way of 
prying Ankara away from Washington's influence.

More balanced coverage all around, but critiques only in print 
----------------------------------------------------- 

5. (SBU) 
Nezavisimaya Gazeta ran an op-ed piece criticizing the Russian military 
for using out of date equipment and tactics from the Cold War, unsuited 
for current warfare. Gazeta also ran an article critical of Russian 
military performance in the Caucasus. Vedomosti, an independent paper, 
went even further and said the war was fought for the benefit of Russian
state energy monopolies. It said Russian foreign policy "smacks of 
cynicism and double standards" when it calls for Saakashvili to go on 
trial for war crimes but uses criminal methods in Chechnya. However, 
such commentary is found only in print media, not/not on television. The
coverage, however, did not question Russia's fundamental right to 
intervene in Georgia, and simply looked critically at aspects of the 
operation and policy.

Future of the region and Saakashvili? 
------------------------------------- 

6. (SBU) The meeting between the 
leaders of South Ossetia, Abkhazia, and President Medvedev headlined 
news reports and topped the news hours, showing images of the Kremlin 
warmly receiving the leaders of the two break-away republics,. . Both 
Izvestiya and Nezavisimaya Gazeta noted that Russia would support any 
decision made by these republics regarding their future status but 
within the framework of international law. Izvestiya made clear that 
"... it's too early to draw a new map of the Caucasus. Medvedev 
(although indirectly) has made it understood: that unlike the Western 
partners (in Kosovo), Russia will act according to the law." 

7. (SBU) 
The frenzied attacks on Saakashvili and slowed down, but a unanimous 
consensus on his criminality, his status as an American puppet, and the 
level of destruction the people of South Ossetia suffered at his hands 
remained. Media continued to run stories on

MOSCOW 00002428 002 OF 002 

the South Ossetian victims of the conflict, with South Ossetian leader 
Kokoyty declaring on Channel One and Rossiya TV that "genocide" was 
committed against the Ossetian people.