Georgia/Russia

Medvedev signs ceasefire, Russians hold positions

Article published on the 2008-08-16 Latest update 2008-08-16 12:42 TU

Russian President Dimitri Medvedev.
(Photo: Reuters)

Russian President Dimitri Medvedev signed the French-negotiated six-point ceasefire agreement, the Kremlin reported Saturday. But Russian troops continue to occupy key positions well within Georgian territory, and they show few signs of moving.

Medvedev had said that he would only sign the French-brokered agreement if the Georgian President’s signature was already on it, something Mikheil Saakashvili did Saturday morning after negotiations with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

A Russian armoured vehicle in the Georgia town of Gori.
(Photo: Reuters)

Despite the fact that the ceasefire agreement requires Russian troops to withdraw to positions held before the conflict, tanks and armoured personnel carriers remained stationed at key intersections near the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.

A tense standoff has started as Georgian and Russian troops have both stationed troop mere metres apart at a highway junction only 30km from Tbilisi, the French Press Agency AFP reported.

The troops are effectively blocking the main road between Tbilisi and the flashpoint town of Gori that was bombarded by Russian planes during the conflict.

Russian forces entered Georgia following Tbilisi's 7 August offensive to retake South Ossetia, which has had de-facto independence from Georgia since the early 1990s.

“The world has watched with alarm as Russia invaded a sovereign neighbouring state and threatened a democratic government elected by its people," said US President George W Bush in his weekly radio address Friday – before the deal was signed.

“This act is completely unacceptable to the free nations of the world,” Bush said. "Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century," Bush added.

But Medvedev was unrepentant of his country’s response at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Sochi.

"If someone continues to attack our citizens, our peacekeepers, then of course we will answer just as we did," the Russian leader said. "Russia, as guarantor of security in the Caucasus and the region, will make the decision which unambiguously supports the will of these two Caucasus peoples," Medvedev said.

He said the separatist regions could not live under Georgian control again.

"Unfortunately after what has happened it is unlikely Ossetians and Abkhaz can live in one state with Georgians," Medvedev said.