To Hansk, London,
there are western journalists in South Osetia. american one if u wonder. he said that his group got attacked by georgian soldies and it looks like he is the only one who managed to stay alive. he also told about 2 russian journalist who were with them and died too. -_-

hannah, orsk,

Naleen Lal, Northern California,

Much part of SO citizens was born in USSR, so they could choose citizenship, isnt it? I thought democracy gives right to choice? Am i right?

Sorry for my poor english.

Stas, Moscow, Russia

Kate in Kiev; The South Ossetians are Russian only because the Russian Govt. offered them passports. They weren't born Russian and have no connections to that country. Russia gerrymandered the population to claim influence in Georgia, which they now use to invade a sovereign nation.

Simon, Stockport,

Yeah - russian "peacekeepers" attack targets all over Georgia...
War started the same time as OG - another typically russian way to avoid publicity
Over 300 tanks, 300 heavy artillery units and even more APC-s were moved in in just few hours?
If this is not carefully orchestrated attack then.....

Kaarel-Kaspar, Tartu, Estonia

if Georgia tries to protect its sovereign territory in South Ossetia, why do 90 % of ossetians have russian citizenship?
south ossetia is russia and south ossetians are russian citizens!

kate, Kiev,

Reality is Georgia was planning on committing ethnic cleansing genocide on Abkhaz and Oss people for very long time. Bravo to Russia for preventing yet another western sponsored ethnic cleansing campaign like former Yugoslavia. Dirty Saakashvili was hoping world would be preoccupied with Olympics.

Zozo, Tbilisi,

South Ossetia did not attack Georgia, Georgia was attacking South Ossetia. By attacking South Ossetia, Georgia implied they agree the rule that dispute can be solved by using force. They initiated attack.Is that clear?
Russia is not doing the same thing as invading Afghan which I believe is wrong.

Jay, Ottawa, Canada

On the first photo! Is not Russian soldiers, it's Georgians! Look to their face! Russian is don't have the bandages, faces is not like to russians. Georgian mercenaries! Information wrong, read the german press gentlemens. CNN, BBC, The Times etc. write that speaks them the government. Info wars.

James, Ulan-Ude, Russian Federation

Dato (Nato) go home!!!

Konstantin, Odessa, Ukraine

to Oscar from madrid, spain.
Thank you. You're dern tootin.

Dmitry, Moscow, Russia

dead right the press in uk has a pro america bias but then lots of newspaprs and sky tv areowned by rupert murdoch

david, gosport, england

Please remember Falklands and the war there to safe few hundred Brits thousands of miles away and please please dont forget the nuclear bombs of Iraq when Sadam was in power ...every exsuse to get your hands to the Iraqi oil . And so many thousands of Iraqi lifes have been sacrificed since then or

Nicholas, LARNACA, CYPRUS

I'm wondering what right has Mr Saakashvili to use EU flag declaring war on Russia on TV? Georgia is not EU member. Is it legal?

Edward, London, UK

Putin is following well in the footsteps of the Tsar in 1914 and the Soviets in 1979. My prediction is this is the beginning of the end of yet another Russian regime. Don't worry about the blind nationalism now - as russia's sons return home in bodybags, the sentiment will change...

John, London,

If you dont believe me and other russians you can go to some ossetians sites and read there the truth!

Taees, Dmitrov, Russia

Does anyone think about the people of South Ossetia? They are suffering now more than anyone else in the region. Georgia started the war and it was an adequate reaction of Russia to protect her citizens and borders.

Alex, Minsk, Belarus

Ossetia joined Russia voluntarily ~300 years ago. At that time Russia promised to Ossetia protection from enemies. Georgia joined Russia later for the same reason. Ossetia was entrasted to Georgian administration by Russians. Georgian failed Ossetians. Georgian lost right to rule Ossetian land.

Alex, Edinburgh,

Would it be possible for Georgia to attack O.S. without permission and support from White House? Not likely considering the hundreds of "advisers" and US intelligence operatives in Georgia who are intimately involved with military training and operation. Another bad Neo-Con plan goes awry..

Stan, St Petersburg/SF, Russia/USA

"Times" published that there was killed 2000 georgians by russian army is it so if we agree that Osetia is pert of Georgia. As for real - there was killed 2000 Osetians by georgian solders sended by they piltical elite whom never agreed with freedom of they ex-territory.

Yuri, Saratov, Russia

I am amazed that not a single Russian sees any wrongdoing on the part of Putin in this whole mess. What exactly is Georgia supposed to do when a brutal giant tries to get as close as possible to the Baku-Tbilisi pipeline? Did you also defend the occupations of Budapest & Prague & Afganistan?

Itamar, Holon, Israel

If Russia is the aggressor, why are Georgians and Ossetians fleeting the conflic zone are seeking shelter in Russia?

Antonina, London,

In case of danger the person searches for a safe place. If Russia such awful country why refugees are torn to take cover in Russia?
Why refugees are taken out under bombardment by Russian buses?

AXEL, KRASNODAR,

Nobody in the west countries wants to admit that this war is a cruel killing of the Ossetians. Russia defends them and her borders. It was UNO's obligation to prevent Georgia from intervention. How your journalists would comment on the helplessness of this organization?

Alex, Minsk, Belarus

Hello! There are some interesting info about georgian invasion in S. Ossetia. http://www.infowars.com/?p=3871
Fooled Americans and naive Europeans tribute.
pls be patient and curious to check this out

Serge, New York, USA

Dear western readers. Nobody says to you how it all began.
On the night of 7-8 of August Gerogian army invaded South Osetia. Georgians used the tactic of "scorched earth" killing more than 2000 civilians, mostly women, chils, elders, razing to the ground 7 villages and the whole city of Tskhinval.

Aleksey, Moscow, Russia

Let's see if i understand this? Russia battles breakaway movements in Chechnya to protect its sovereign territory. This is good thing. Georgia tries to protect its sovereign territory in South Ossetia - but for Russia this is a bad thing? Could someone in Russia please explain the contradiction?

Kevin Miller, Tonbridge,

In fact no Western journalist is allowed to South-Ossetia by Russian military. Wonder why? Perhaps because all their stagings there would be undermined?

Hansk, London,

There is an obvious bias in these reports yet it is funny to read how American and UK residents loudly proclaim only they have "free press". I live in both US and Russia, an American, and see that the bias is less in Russia than the US where people just do not seem to recognize propaganda as such.

Stan, St Petersburg/SF, Russia/USA

Georgia bombed 2000 innocent civilians in South Osetia so the Russian army was right to move in to protect the area.
But is Russia content with just protecting the people of South Osetia or have they a different agenda. The next few days will tell whether Russia is to be trusted or not

Alan, Bristol, UK

That's not the point. After the 1992 SOssetia-Georgia conflict Russia and Georgia signed the treaty that SO and "the mainland Georgia" are separated by Russ/Georg peacekeepers. G. don't recognise SO as a terr. unity, it was split between G. provinces.

Dmitry, Moscow,

Forty years ago, the Russians invaded Czechoslovakia, I was about to be married. This year being about to celebrate my ruby wedding Russia invades Georgia. Maybe we ought to have allowed Hitler to sort out Russia, then we could have sorted out Hitler. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

C Byrne, Pinner, UK

This is not about protecting the South Ossetians or the Abkhazians, this is Russia's Iraq. Georgia is strategically important when it comes to oil, and Georgia's migration towards the West will place that territory under their protection. Moscow cannot allow that to happen - who can blame them?

Scott , Birmingham, UK

There is a Russian population in every EU state, does that give Russia the right to attack every country where it has its population. If Russia truly cared they would evacuate all there citizens like other countries are doing instead of making a land grab.Hiter also used the same excuse to start WW2

Maciej Skiba, Chicago, USA

Russians are behaving just as they alway have throughout history. Putin is following in Stalin's footsteps and rolling his tanks over peacful democratic naions yet again. They should learn to live within their own territory and stop acting like a bunch of parasites sucking other coutries dry.

J Finnigan, Moscow, Russia

I've got a question for "The Times" journalists.
Where are you writing your articles from? Not from ruined Tskhinval, I'm sure. Russian journalists from governmental channel were wounded here..
There were no western journalists in town at the moment when Georgia attacked South Ossetia. I wonder why?

Polina, Moscow, Russia

To those thinking "All news media in Russia is government controlled" - I freely read the Times, the Guardian, der Spiegel, watch BBC, CNN, what I want. The "Vesti" channel shows us the articles from these papers, and news by BBC/CNN, even Saakashvili interview. Who has free press then?

Tina, Moscow, RF

Why massmedia in the west speaks only about Georgian. why place only photos of damages in georgia. Look for damages in tshinvalli. The city is in ruins by georgian shelling thousand of peoples are killed by georgian. One girl said, she saw how georgian tank run over running ossetian women&children

sergey, st-Petersburg, russia

Nowadays Russia is a fascist country. Sad, but true. And the West should act earlier this time!

Making the same mistake the 2nd time is just stupidity. Look what is happening in Chechenya - do we really want this to be repeated in Georgia?

John, London,

Well it could always be worse: Israel could be doing this. Then there'd really be universal condemnation from the British media!

Noah, New York, NY

Georgia's borders are internationally recognised.l am amazed how many people blame Georgia.If say France occupied a part of England and gave them passports,England would naturally fight back to retake the land.This is what Georgia has done.Russia is deciding what bits of Georgia is Georgia's

David glowacki, London, UK

Strange, that first 16 hours of this war, started at 23-00 070808, when all civil population got asleep in their houses in Tshinvali (S.O) and Georgian Army, started flattening the entire city – for all this nightmare times, with vivid LIVE pictured shown by RusTV, BBC & CNN hasn’t notice the"news"?

Alex, Moscow, RF

Europe is blind. Saakashvili killed 2000 people. Does everyone think that is a fair price for territorial integrity of Georgia? It is a genocide. fascism. Kosovo asked about independance and Europe said "yes'. Ossetia asked about independance and Europe is keeping silence...It is double standarts.

alex, sydney, australia

I`m very happy that there`re lots of people from west countries who get the situation right, so they were not fooled by Mass Media with their propaganda. They`re making out us to be fools but we have our own brain to understand the reality. Our troops just saving peacefull people, nothing else.

Roman, Moscow, Russia

Georgians, you not are afraid of those:) the Word of honour, you not therefrom wait for a trouble. Threat for Georgia are presidents of Georgia and the USA. To you less to think of the NATO and arms, and more often about friendship with neighbours.

AXEL, KRASNODAR,

To will, grimbsy.
And what about Nothern Ireland and wars in Iraq and Afganistan? Should I accuse you of imperial thinking (rest in peace Br. Emp) and call you American sock puppets? "Free" press is always financed not just to provide information but to provide some POV as well. Don't be naive.

Dmitry, Moscow,

Georgia is of-course a pro-Western country. i.e. no propaganda. Russia are very angry at its former allies joining Nato and want to now 'expand' their borders. Pro-Russia allies will join Russia and all 'free countries/westernized' will join Georgia. This will be big! Trust in God and Pray

Richard Hamlin, London., England

UK should finaly show its strength and start bombing Georgia the same way as it has bombed Serbia for 78 days! Georgians tried to keep their soveregnity by invading South Ossetia as Serbian tried to invade Kosovo.

No more genocide should be allowed. UK should finally protect South Ossetians.

Michael, Orpington, UK

Having been castrated by the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia as its inheritant, believes it may restitute its plenitude by showing the military might and regaining control over parts of its broken Soviet body. Unforunately, it will never be the same body and there should be healthier ways to re

Anton, Stavropol,

The russians are not different from the Nazis.They are committing genocide in Georgia,despite of the ceasefire offered by Georgia. They trying to kill as many people as they can before the EU and UN envoys arrive. Shame on Putin and Medvedev,They should be taken to the Hague.

Alessandro Piero, Palermo, Italy

If Russian citizens are facing periles in S. Ossetia then the RUSSIA should open their border for them and allow them entry into RUSSIAN territory. But if this for territorial gains then RUSSIA is wrong and should be held responsible for the killings of civilians. Innocents are dying on both side.

Naleen Lal, Northern California,

The Russian are some of the most ignorant people in the world, I agree they can defend S.O. but if they insist on destroying Georgia I can see WW3 happening, I hope they are ready for that.

Mike, London, UK

the problem began in kosovo. USA with its support to the independence of Kosovo showed that USA doesn´t understand anything in the european politic

oscar, madrid, spain

Why can't we all just get along?

Ian, manchester, UK

Russian peacekeepers weren't only victims of Georgian troops. Georgians were & are making ethnic purges, killing Ossetian civilians including women and children. >1000 Russian hostages kept by force at locations by the Black Sea shore. Are Georgians still right? How much should they kill 2 be wrong?

Vladimir, Kiev, Ukraine

As a Briton, I am embarrassed by the bias of our media.
They present Russia as everything that is bad and Georgia as an innocent victim. The reality is far different. Georgia attacked civilians with artillery. If there was any consistency, Saakashvili would be going to the Hague

Luis, London,

The Times - Thank you!!! We can wright our comment here.

Max, Moscow, Russia

You everyone who are leaving a comment don't know what is happening in real. Russia is aggresor,this country does't respect any democratic or moral acquisitions ! Russia("Soviet Union") is danger to the whole world,their government is assembly of insane people !
God Bless Georgia and Georgians

Dato, Tbilisi, Russia

Relax, men
USA are just testing russian army and goverment.
If we don't want to get a global war, russian army must pass the test.
I condole with ossetian, russian, abhazian and georgian people, that have fallen a victim of american geopolitics.

Kirill, Vladimir, Russia

The Russians' concern for the welfare of innocent civilians in the Caucasus is touching. It's just a shame it was less in evidence during the Chechen wars when 100,000 innocent civilians were killed by indiscriminate Russian bombing and artillery attacks on Chechen cities.

Lyndon Rosser, Caerdydd, Cymru

It is not necessary to believe to everything on CCN, BBC and etc. If you want to know another point of view, you will look the television channel Russia Today (on english): http://www.russiatoday.ru

Sergei, Moscow,

To Peter in London. Mind you Peter, it is the UN decree under which Russian peace keepers are operating in Osetia. So, stop reading your BBC and alike bull.. The simple thing is, whoever spits in Russian direction that side West will support. You guys can't just think about another side of a coin..

Max, Denver, USA

" The Times " why you do not take interview at two thousand dead ossets?? The western propagation.. Saakashvili - the fascist!
Sorry for my English.

Konstantin, Kopeisk, Russia

Europe, today is a day of your shame! While a georgian heavy artillery strike to Ossetian city and countries with civilians, woman and childrens (that you call a "separatists"), you talk about "russian agression". SHAME!

Alexander, Moscow,

Oh, yeah, like the US and the West will go to war with Russia over such a useless country as Georgia. If they indeed would have wanted it, the West would have already helped that 'poor' country! Theres only so many former Soviet's country US can subsedise especially now!

laura, London,

It's unjust to blame Russia for political game of the USA!They try to make the impression of Russia agression!Some of photos and videos from Georgia and Osetia are fake! Aren't 2000 dead in Osetia not enough??? It's a real psychological war.

Mariya, Stary Oskol, Russia

Russia is in clear violation of international law and the UN Charter by invading the sovereign territory of a neighbouring state.

Peter, London,

Well that lets the US,UK off the hook then as they only invade Sovereign States Thousands of miles from their borders.

What about Israel then.

joe miles, greenock, scotland

It's awful to see and hear such misinterpretaitions by international (UK and US particularly) media... And then US and UK telling us about democracy and bla-bla-bla...

Konstantin, Moscow, Russian

In Soviet Russia, Russia makes Ossetia out of Georgia! In all fairness, Russia is only about freedom for its citizens and has no interest in oil.

j, wuerzburg, germany

funny how all the russians say ossetia should be treated like kosovo, how many of you are saying that about chechenya? state run media in russia is clearly doing its job. in britian we have a thing called freedom of the press, i trust ours infinetly more than some mouth piece for putin.

will, grimsby, uk

Gorgian military buget was grown 30 times for a couple of years. US gov granded to Gorgian gov hundreds of millions $ for military expenses. Did US tax-payers know at the expense of whom President Saakashvili did... what he did? There's no more Tshinvali, over 2000 ossetian citizen died for 2 day..

Sergey, Samara, Russia

It is interesting to see how facts are re-shuffled!
Russia came into Georgia - right, but please consider that they have only several hundred men there and no heavy weapon when it has started. Also, they had lost over 10 people dead and 150 people injured before sending forces.

Andrew, Almaty, Kazakhstan

David said “The only reason Russia has created this connived to spark this was is to regain control over pipelines from the Caspian region that circumvent Russia”. It is nonsense! This confrontation between Georgia and South Ossetia was started long ago in 1990. At that time there was that pipeline

Poul, Vancouver, Canada

It's obvious Russia's using its oil and gas resources triyng to regain Soviet Union power.The term human rights is distorted there.Chechnia is a black page of history. But look on spreading democracy from US!(It's another continent,isn't it?) EU press IS biased.The independence can't be paid well.

Dmitry, Moscow, Russia

Why is the whole thing brought down to Russia?
I suspect that the Times, the BBC and the like don't really need any information causes to blame Russia.

But how about the fact that it was Georgia who started the aggression killing 2000 Tshkinvali civilians? Does anybody has a say about Georgia?

Evgeny, Atlanta, USA

Saakashvilli keeps on saying same old mantra "democracy", "freedom", not giving a dime about either. And gets sympathetic attention worldwide. EU, UN, NATO... you name it ... should listen to both sides of the story

Andy, Moscow, Russia

In 1990 Russians tried to stop this problem between Georgia and South Ossetia, and peacemakers were organized from Russians, South Ossetian and Georgian. It was a peace until the USA created revolution in Georgia in 2003 and put existing Georgian president. He started this conflict

Poul, Vancouver, Canada

Get your facts straight Georgia attacked an independed state of South Ossetia. They murdered the UN peacekeeping force. They then lied to UN accusing Russia of attacking them. Which is just blatantly untrue as Russians keep their army within the limits of their UN mandate.

John O'Toole, Bromley, United Kingdom

To Walter Donway:

This has nothing to do with the current situation in Ossetia. The Russian citizens there are actually ethnic ossetians who have been living there for centuries and who don't want to be a part of Georgia. Their freedom is not less valuable than the freedom and safety of georgians.

Albert , Yerevan, Armenia

Why is anyone happy, at all, about ANY war? This one seems to have people giddy that Russians are killing Georgians and viceversa. I don't get human blood-thirst. We're a doomed species, always at one another's throats. The cockroaches will indeed inherit the Earth. A pox on us all..bah-humbug!

Tony, East New York, Brooklyn,

Diar Tony, from Tallin

I have BBC and CNN in my apartment in Siberia, and I see that it is even more politically committed mass-media then russian Vesti channel. Vesti show and Saakashvili, and Putin, and many other voices...

Valery, Krasnoyarsk (Siberia), Russia

Red Army advances? Oh, really? If they have had Time Machine to come here from 1930-s, why they advances to Georgia, not to Kremlin?

Alexey Paponov, Voronezh, Russia

The Russian bullies and cowards once again murder innocent civilians, just as they have always done. Just ask the Poles

Richard , Nottingham,

I wonder what's the matter with the free press all around the western world. The facts say the georgian desperado Saakashvili started this mess with killing hundreds of civilians while they were asleep. In the newspapers it reads: the Russians are about to conquer peaceful Georgia

Marko, Berlin,

Remember, that USA even strike the Belgrag city, when Miloshevich did genocide albanians. Same reason is for Russia strikes to Georgia, for genocide ossetians by Saakashvili.

Alexander, Moscow,

there are 8 from 10 who are russians living in South Ossetia...Tbilisi does not need them to be alive & never wanted...is that so difficult to understand? & i won't be surprised at all when it's founded out the States are behind this Georgia's attack...money, all the time only money...

Ella, Warsaw, Poland

Sure 'Russia is the enemy of the world' cause it stopped georgian army in Ossetia. Georgia had time only to destroy a hospital with pacients, and to kill only about 2000 civilians, it is very few for Times. 3 georgians surely are more interesting. 30000refugees fled to Russia isn't interesting too.

Soslan, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

its not the Red army , do not use obsolete Terms

Aditya, manchester, UK

Tskhinvali is ruined by Georgian army, about 2000 civilians are killed, many could not escape Tskhinvali because of constant shelling by Georgian army, more than 30000 refugees fled to Russia and now we have an article: "Terror in face of Red Army". Good unbiased article???

Sergey, London, UK

We have story about Soviet/Russian friendship.
Russian went twice into Poland:
- first time as enemies in 1939,
- second time in 1944 as friends and liberators.
However, there wasn’t any difference. Similar situation is now with Georgia.

John, Wroclaw, Poland

All news media in Russia is government controlled and always has been - it has no credibility.

Sean, Coventry, UK

Marek Pawluk

And what said polish authorities when polish troops invades Chekhoslovakia just a little ealier ?
You know something about it ?

Dmitry, Moscow, Russia

I am for Russia and free Ossetia! Georgia must go back!

Bob, Nashville, USA

"The only reason Russia has created this connived to spark this was is to regain control over pipelines from the Caspian region that circumvent Russia" David, Jerusalem

Even if it is so does it justify those atrocities the Georgians commited during the last 3 days in Ossetia???

Stas, St.Petersburg, Russia

You, people from the West, are sick and perverted. Remember, 18 states illegaly bombed Serbia for 78 days straight, for some opscure reason (Albanians fled Kosovo AFTER bombing started). And now, this. Excessive power, ha? In your face! Kushner is calling for Gruzia integrity!!! HA! Sickening...

qryber, Belgrade, Serbia

I am amazed! Civilized World, please, accept my congratulations. You have totally dependent by government press, like we have in Russia. You did not go far away from us.

Nonema, Moscow, Russian Federation

"Russia is invading Georgia." Ok, simple question: WHY?! Why would Russia, a country that is still recovering from two pathetic wars, start another one? Just for giggles, I guess. It's in our nature to go around shooting people. And once Georgia's done - Finland is next. So Mr. Halpin, act quick.

Nickolay, Moscow, Russia

Russia is in clear violation of international law and the UN Charter by invading the sovereign territory of a neighbouring state.

Peter, London,

It`s bitter to confess that our army is killing georgian soldiers and civilians, but we do protect our interests in that region.
one should mind that Saakashvili is the one who began the invasion and killed Osetians.
Please, do not think of us as of monsters. We lost a number of soldiers there too

Albert, Sterlitamak, Russia

South Ossetia is a de facto independent province where georgian troops are not wellcome.Based on the fact that those troops were in tshkinvali and the georgian government isued statements that "we now control south ossetia"one tends to think georgia attacked first.

panayotis, athens, greece

If the London Borough of Lambeth declared war on Russia we could end up with Russian troops and tanks on the streets. I might dare to venture out then.

gwilym rhys-jones, costa del sol, spain

Well, once again Western media demonstrates its prejudice position towards Russia and totally ignores a simple fact that it was Georgian artillery which leveled South Ocetian capital, Georgian troops committing atrocities on Ocetian civilians and Russian peace keepers. Ignorance is a bliss..

Max, Denver, USA

People, stop watching propaganda CNN and BBC.
I listen to official statements Security Council UNO, and I can't believe! SC UNO thing, that Russia is guilty of war in SO, that Russia is aggressor.
Then why refugees, peaceful people run to the Russia and not to the Georgia?

Alexandr, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

If the US and the West stay COWARD without moving move their fingers (military) for Georgia, eventually they will lose Iran and N.Korea. Fear will be spreading to all the world and soon the world will find themselves under a tight grip of communism.

Jong , Higuey , Dominican Republic

Russia has NEVER EVER done something wrong! It's always right!
And any bloke in Novosibirsk or any other place in Russia, knows how it is. That because they have a free media, supported by government and government helps free media to tell the truth!
We are not so lucky and have to rely on BBC

Tony, Tallinn, Estonia

This war is war about spheres of influence and oil. Russia wants to control ALL energy sources coming out of former USSR. Russia wants to be the world superpower again, but it will only last as long as the super-high oil prices. Gas and oil prices drop and with them the Russian economy and ambition.

Eli, Tel Aviv, Israel

It's unfortunate that western media doesn't allow Russians voices to be heard. All we see and hear is the statements from Georgia, there's no independent observers in the region! Why should we trust Georgia or Russia? All points of view should be allowed. Yet all the info comes from Tbilisi!

Sergey K, London, UK

Russia's concerned with human rights? It's the joke of the year.
Nobody butchered more Russian citizens than Russia itself.
What about Chechnya?

The only reason Russia has created this connived to spark this was is to regain control over pipelines from the Caspian region that circumvent Russia

David, Jerusalem,

Walter Donway, East Hampton, U.S.A. stop watching propaganda chanels and listen to blablabla Condoliza and Bush Jr. Try to find time and visit Moscow and you will be shocked from the changes happened in Russia.I hope that war willstop immediatelly coz Georgians and Russian not enemies for each other

Stephan, Leipzig,

If it was a new Hitler arising,there will be nothing left of the whole of Georgia by the end of day one of this conflict. Russian are pretty kind towards Georgian with their mighty army resources!

laura, London,

Outside the realm of romantic fantasy,is it plausible,that Russia is engaging in an expensive campaign purely to protect the rights of 50 thousand "Ethnic Russians"?Is a wolf ever satisfied with just one lamb?It's De ja vu all over again.

Killian, Dublin,

Russian government say that they sent their troops to South Ossetia to protect its citizens. It reminds me about September 1939 when Russian Red Army hand in hand with Nazi Germany invaded Poland. What was their explanation of the invasion then?
To protect Russians living in Poland.

Marek Pawluk, Tamworth, United Kingdom

It's obvious that those Georgian lying. They are afrain not for Russian, with whom they lived together for ages, they are afraid of abhazian revenge for the years of ethnical crimes (from both sides).

Dmitry, Novosibirsk, Russia

I have returned from South Ossetia... The Georgian army has destroyed practically all. From cellars groans and entreaty of peace inhabitants reach. Ossetic men give worthy repulse to the Georgian armies...

Dylon Hase, Linz, Austria

"We are afraid that the Russians will come here and kill us." It is the result of georgian propaganda. Just take into acount that 25% of all georgians in the world lives in Russia and you will understand the real relationship between our nations...

Valery, Krasnoyarsk (Siberia), Russia

Georgian troops burned people alive in churches, deliberately rolled over women and children with tanks and cut the throats of POWs. 2000 civilians dead in one day. Who's the agressor here?

anton, Moscow, Russia

International friends, I want you to be very careful with information you have received.
Crazy terrorist Saakashvili destroyed the capital of Southern Osetia and around 2 thousand of civilians. At the same time he boldly lies that Russia is an agressor.
CNN and BBC articles are far from truth.

Alexander, Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia

"I wonder how those Georgian citizens got Soviet, ops I meant to say Russian passports?"

Ossetins never were Georgia citizens. Because they were former USSR citizens and because they refused to accept Georgia citizenship, Russia was legally obliged to grant them Russian citizenship.

Igor Basek, St. Petersburg,

Peter from Warsaw, humans are humans, whether they are citizens of Georgia or Russia. And if Georgia kills defenceless people in their houses with heavy artillery, someone should protect them.

Sergey from Tomsk, Russia WILL stop at the border between S.Ossetia and Georgia. We are not aggressors.

Victor, Petrozavodsk, Russia

Why don't you show photos with genocide against osetins. Why don't you tell about osetins victims. Geogians shelled hospitals, kindergartens, schools, universities. They killed children, woman, old people. Saakashvili is a war criminal ! Russia stopped him.

Victor, Tver, Russia

Russia is absolutely right doing what it is doing! What would the KFOR do if the Serbian artillery started shelling its outposts? Europe and the US needs to stop being so hypocritical! Saakashvilli is Washington's puppet who uses the rhetoric appealing to the Western (particularly American) ears!

Mark, Dayton, US

Obviously, only USA can bomb people in other countries to "protect the democracy". And, of course, it's will be considered legitimate by the world community. Just ask anyone in Iraq - they will explain you everything about your "democracy".

Konstantin, Moscow, Russia

To Peter, Warsaw, Poland.

Unlike the Baltic countries we have the law that any citizen of former USSR can get russian citizenship without any limitations. And Osetian people prefer to do so...

Valery, Krasnoyarsk (Siberia), Russia

To Walter Donway, U.S.A.

You should know that Ossetian people have lived in South Ossetia for ages. It is their land and they took Russian citizenship because were oppressed by Georgia about 14 years ago. And you should read and watch not only reports from Tbilisi but from Ossetia too. You'll see

Helen, Moscow,

That is pure propaganda! "Red Army... Russia is the enemy of the world", poor georgian victims. What these georgians thought about three days ago when they attacked Tshinvali? Saakashvili did double genocide: killing as many osetians as possible georgians that will never come back to Osetia.

Alex, Utrecht,

How can anyone defend - honestly - the Russian invasion of Georgie? Expansionist, seeking control of energy resources to the West, determined to stop Gerogia's proposed NATO membership!
Excuse: "To defend Russian citizens' /human rights"?
And Beslan, and Tchetchnia, etc. and democracy in Russia?

grace, berlin, germany

In 1999, during 78 days and nights of nonstop NATO bombardment of Serbia (2,300 civilians killed) there was a total "blackout" in the Western media of pro-Serb sentiment or historical argument re Kosovo or description of Serb suffering (including from depleted uranium bombs). But in S. Ossetia...

Paul Laird, Stockholm, Sweden

How tragic, the total sleep of humanity hallucinating that that person over there is separate or different from you. How awful, that even one person has had their life ruined by the delusional state we are in. How unspeakably sad: Hundreds upon hundreds of years relentlessly slaughtering each other.

Hugh Croft, Sassenehiem,

to Walter Donway, East Hampton, U.S.A. Nah. It rather seems that some of americans and most Brits still live in the past with those cold war clichese and russophobia in their hearts. Georgia goaded by the US started that massacre of civiliance (most of whom happend to be russian citizens) in Ossetia

Stas, St.Petersburg, Russia

Why all articles in the European and American mass-media are based only on statements of the Georgian president which on hearing, have prepared the USA? Why do not shine from different directions? There Georgians kill the peace population, and nobody speaks about it?

Alex, London,

igor i fully agree with you !.... and i am from the UK..

the US has been pushing and prodding and trying to expand nato and also supporting georgia behind the scenes in this act of aggression against south ossetia.

the west is so hypocritcal and cares only about oil once again.

andrew, london, england

As much as I clearly see this as Russia showing off its renewed "might" I see some similarities to the Iraq/Afgan "wars" and therefore the "west" cant really talk.It comes down to if EU/USA are prepared to risk world stability over this. This is the bears reaction to Starwars a warning to the West!!

Sam Strange, Dublin, Ireland

The fall of the soviet union could have been handled differently by the west, but they treated Russia with contempt and now we see the results. Georgia in NATO, what are the Neocons thinking, its like Russia stationing its weapons in Cuba, do as i say and not as i do aint going to work, if Kosovo can be independent so can Ossetia, simple as. Double talk and hypocrisy aint going to work in todays new world order

Gabriel, Dublin, Ireland

Oh yes, evil Russians are coming. 30 000 refugees have fled, saving their lives... on the territory of Russian Federation. Isn't it strange? Who is aggressor, then?

Oleg, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Osetia and Abhasiare not historical Georgia earth!!!! Stalin jointed them together.
Georgia have not any right on this territory and peoples, becauce this peoples don't want to be with Georgia in one country, they want to be independent like Kosovo!!

maria, Tallinn, Estonia

We need to stop the agression of Georgien. Russia defended people in Osetia, and no more. It would be more because Georgie does not stop until today. So, who knows?

Nikolai, Heidelberg, Germany

People! Do not belive CNN and BBC! They describe news ONLY from georgian side!
There are captured soldiers from NATO side now (afro-americans). All what you see on BBC news is Tshinvali desroyed by GEORGIAN troops! All what you hear is lie!

Rusich, Moscow,

With the amount of contradictions/bias in the press, all we can go on is facts. Georgia started this and now pleads for sympathy and help from the West? One must ask, would we would be in such a situation if Saakashvili were not such a loose canon! Russia and the US look like pawns in Georgias game!

Joe Barren, London, England

People,
I wonder of one simple thing - why british or US reporters wouldn't come to South Osetia and count dead and wounded there. Why they connot show ruins on that side. Why they will not ask US government about reasons of sending military trainers to Georgia. And who for god sake started this?

alex, Toronto, Canada

Sudentland was a 'pre-emptive' war. Conversely Russia acted after whole night's shelling which destroyed city and killed circa 1000 people.

ABT, Manchester,

People, Stop doing any war !!!!
It is crazy foolish to make such kind of things.
And Saakashwili and Medvedev- both should stop this war....

Ivan, Vilnius, Lithuania

Is that how propaganda works in Georgia? President Saakashvili announced georgian invasion in very clear words. Soon afterwards Russian peacekeepers were killed when his army was actually shelling the city of Tskhinvali. Along with its civilian population. And those people are talking about Sudeten?

Jud, SF/Prague, US/Czech

Saakashvili thought he could attack sleeping peaceful cities and russian peacekeepers with heavy weapon and no reply. Now he must understand who he messed up with. He's got a war! Russia wont stop until this fascist is sitting before tribunal as war criminal.
And what a nonsence about "Red Army"

Sergey, Tomsk, Russia

I wonder how those Georgian citizens got Soviet, ops I meant to say Russian passports? And invading a country to protect psuedo-citizens sounds like something staight out of 1938 Czechoslovakia. I guess we are witnessing a new Hitler arising. Question is what will the west do. Appeasement anyone?

Peter, Warsaw, Poland

So stupid article, rly, South Osetia has 2000 civilians killed by georgian army for 3 days, capital of South Osetia is totally destroyed by georgian artillery. 2 times Saakashvili proclaimed stopping fire, but Georgia have used this time only for regrouping their forses and sudden stirkes.

Dmitry Levenko, Kiev, Ukraine

Russia appears to be ruled by a dictator who wishes to re-establish the Communist empire, a man connected with the worst of the old totalitarian regime (the KGB). Naturally, many Russians still live in areas once invaded and occupied by the Soviets. That is an excuse to re-invade and re-occupy.

Walter Donway, East Hampton, U.S.A.

War is always a devastating tragedy. US and RF should work out a decision to end crisis. However, US is only making warning remarks. It would be better to cooperate with RF and impose political will on Georgian provokers to safe Georgian freedom and democracy. Time to get rid off anti-russian phobia

Andi, Moscow,

I wonder what would UK army do if your peacekeeping mission and citizens would be smashed by heavy shells like a cattle, say, in Ireland. Would it say OK, retreat and ask for peace? I really wonder why your press considers its readers so impressible and stupid.

Alexander, Moscow,

People open their eyes! Russia defends its citizens, as would be received in such a situation the U.S. or Britain? Here's to you and answer, and they do not have to offend Russia not knowing what it is not! Full-time and enough lies! Stop Saakashvili!
Sorry for my English.

Igor, Piter, Kazakhstan