Political scientist: Success in South Ossetia for Saakashvili would inspire Moldovan radicals to recreate the same situation in Transnistria

Политолог: Успех Саакашвили в Южной Осетии воодушевил бы молдавских радикалов на реализацию данного сценария в Приднестровье

[This is an excellent article which may cast light on Russia's actions; most of the article is devoted to Georgia and not Moldova as the title seems to suggest]

“The Nazi-like activities of Georgia in South Ossetia, which are making even the most extremely liberal and western sponsors of Tbilisi shudder, came about because the US inspired a feeling of utter impunity in Saakashvili,” stated Vladimir Bukarskiy, head of the department for Moldova and Transnistria of the Association of Orthodox political scientists of Russia, commenting in an interview with an IA Regnum correspondent about the Georgian aggression against South Ossetia.

“The Georgian president was certain in his “untouchability” to such a degree that during the course of the last several years, he has systematically humiliated Russia and laughed in the face of the Russian president.” Vladimir Bukarskiy continues, “So far, punishment has escaped him, however, he can’t outrun his fate. The terror, in the spirit of Pol Pot, of shooting women, children and the elderly in Tskhinvali, was the last straw which forced the Russian leadership to act decisively and adequately. Now any talk about a peaceful resolution to the Georgian-Ossetian conflict is out of the question. Georgia has lost South Ossetia for good. From now on, the city “Tskhinvali” [the Georgian spelling] no longer exists—it was destroyed and covered in blood by the Georgian butchers. Now there is only “Tskhinval”—capital of the free and independent Republic of South Ossetia.”

According to this expert, it’s Russia’s turn “to demonstrate to the whole world that it can no longer 'sit on the sidelines,' that it has its own interests, that from now on it will take responsibility for its own citizens, wherever they may be.” “If Russia were to back off, it would lose not only the North Caucasus, but all of its autonomy. The clock would be turned back to the 90s, when the word “Russia” brought to mind irony or contempt. These times have passed. Moreover, the most recent war in South Ossetia, which was inspired and generously financed by Washington and Brussels, was designed to test Medvedev, to see how weak he is. Just like they test the new guy in a prison cell or in the barracks. To the displeasure of the West and Georgia, Dmitriy Medvedev has endured the test with dignity. Now Russia has full moral reason to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia,” emphasized Bukarskiy.

Speaking about Kishinev’s position on South Ossetia, he noted that Moldovan radicals are impatiently waiting for Saakashvili’s full and final control over South Ossetia. “It has momentarily raised the stakes of anti-Russian powers in Moldova. They were squealing in delight and rubbing their hands together in anticipation—nothing would stop them from a triumphant procession to power in 2009, the utter crushing defeat of the pro-Russian powers, and the subsequent attempts to bring about a similar result [i.e. retaking S. Ossetia] in Transnistria. But these powers have been taught a lesson: Russians don’t desert their own in war, and no one will permit a repeat of the 1992 Transnistria events. It’s time for Russia to demonstrate to the officials in Kishinev that, as before, Russia is “in the game,” and as before, Russia will have to be taken into consideration,” concluded Vladimir Bukarskiy.

IA Regnum