C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 001336
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958:
DECL: 08/07/2018
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, RU, GG
SUBJECT: SITREP 1: FIGHTING IN SOUTH OSSETIA ESCALATES
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

1. (C)
Begin Summary: Intense fighting began in South Ossetia the
evening of August 6 and continued into the daylight hours
August 7. Intense fighting broke out west of Tskhinvali at
approximiately 1800 in Avnevi and Nuli and continued until
2100, when explosions were noted northeast of Tskhinvali in
Dmenisi and Sarabuki. By 0600 August 7, firefighting continued
to the southwest in and around Erevneti. At 1600 local time,
Deputy FM Grigory Vashadze called the Ambassador to report
that a full-scale South Ossetian attack against a Georgian
village was underway, resulting in the death of one Georgian
peacekeeper and injuries to several others. There were reports
of light arms fire, RPGs, and use of heavy artillery fire
August 6-7, but the latter cannot be confirmed. Local Georgian
authorities assisted by a JPFK escort evacuated approximately
40 children and women from Nuli after daybreak on August 7.
Georgian authorities report that the South Ossetians are
moving heavy military equipment from a base in J ava, located
north of the conflict zone. OSCE observers indicated that
Georgian forces along with GRAD artillery are on the move,
either as part of a show of force or readiness, or both.

2. (C)
Deputy Defense Minister Kutelia said that Georgian military
troops are not massing in response to overnight's events and
are taking great pains to respond proportionately. Minister of
Foreign Affairs Eka Tkeshelashvili said that a proposed
meeting between the State Minister for Re-integration
Yakobashvili and de facto Representative Chochiev did not take
place, and opined that de facto South Ossetian President
Kokoity had blocked the meeting. However, OSCE reported that
late in the day August 7, Yakobashvili was in the Russian
peacekeepers compound in Tskhinvali meeting with Russian Envoy
Yuri Popov along with the OSCE representative. Ambassador
urged the Foreign Minister and the Deputy Minister of Defense
to remain calm, not overreact, and to de-escalate the
situation.

3. (C)
Comment. The fighting which began well before dusk on August 6
and which continued into the early daylight hours of August 7,
is atypical, given that these events usually end by daybreak.
From evidence available to us it appears the South Ossetians
started today's fighting. The Georgians are now reacting by
calling up more forces and assessing their next move. It is
unclear to the Georgians, and to us, what the Russian angle is
and whether they are supporting the South Ossetians or
actively trying to help control the situation. The Embassy is
reviewing security procedures and will hold an EAC on August 8.
End Summary and Comment.

Official Response
------------------

4. (C)
In an August 7 meeting with the FM, the Ambassador urged the
Georgians not to overreact to the situation and to restore
calm to the region. The FM said that Kokoity blocked the
proposed meeting between Yakobashvili and Chochiev and noted
that the South Ossetians had instigated the August 6 attack.
Ruslan Abashidze, Georgian Ministry for Reintegration, told
Poloff that three Georgian peacekeepers had been injured in
Wednesday evening's firefights and had been evacuated to the
Gori military medical facility, where President Saakashvili
will visit them. When the fighting escalated later on August
7, Deputy FM Vashadze told the Ambassador that one Georgian
peacekeeper had been killed and several wounded. Vashadze said
that heavy Russian equipment was being moved south from Java -
a military base north of the conflict zone , which Georgians
have not seen -- even in tense times -- in the past. According
to Abashidze, Ossetians are shelling Georgian villages, and
the village of Dmenisi has sustained significant damage.

5. (C)
Deputy Minister of Defense Batu Kutelia told Ambassador at
mid-day August 7 that Georgian military troops are on higher
alert, but will not be deploying in response to Wednesday's
events. According to the Embassy DATT, fourth brigade
personnel were noticeably absent from training August 7, and
those attending a UAV military training class had been called
away as well. Kutelia said that the South Ossetians are
targeting peacekeepers versus Ministry of Internal Affairs
Troops. Embassy observers on the highway noted approximately
30 yellow city buses, the usual mode of transport for moving
Ministry of Interior forces, carrying uniformed men heading
north from Tbilisi.

OSCE Military Observers
-----------------------

6. (C)
OSCE Military observers told Poloff that Georgian

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troops were on the move on the M-27 from east to west and west
to east, in the direction of Gori. OSCE observers on the
ground noted a column of 26 yellow city buses, carrying
uniformed men, escorted by military vehicles moving to the
north of Gori. There are numerous reports that the Georgians
are moving military equipment and forces toward the north, but
many cannot yet be confirmed. Initial impressions are that the
Georgians are deploying troops to positions in Georgian
territory to the south of the Zone of Conflict and were in a
heightened state of readiness in order to show their resolve
to respond to further attacks.

TEFFT