Mike, MILTON KEYNES – You have a wish to talk about Chechnya and S. Ossetia; however you do not have reliable information about both of them. You even do not know it is Chechnyans’ choice to be a part of Russia.

Alexey, Moscow,

If everything Russians say about these events and their troops is true, why are their troops still occupying Gorgia far outside S Ossetia.
Why are Russian troops still destroying Georgian civil infrastructure ?
Why are Russian troops locking out Georgian civil administration ?
Your media is gagged, but the rest of the worlds news outlets tell the same story.

Anna, London, UK

All this Russian macho boasting is because they have managed to beat up a tiny neighbour state and destroy its civilian infrastructure. They now think themselves a ferocious military power and start threatening everybody. Braggadocio is not invincibility - just evidence of dangerous delusions.

Ian, Berwick, UK

'If you want to hear a lie, listen to Russian President;'
Wrong!! on all counts.
And if you want to hear blatant lies & sickening hypocrisy, listen to George Bush & NATO.
If you want to see disportionate response, look at Serbia, Lebanon , Iraq & Afghanistan & a dozen others.

Elizabeth, Herts, England

Dr Andris Lielmanis, Brampton, Canada
1. Alanians (Ossetians) are straight descendants of well known Scythians; their language belongs to Hindu-European language family, Iranian group.
2. Despite mass killing to be perpetrated by Georgian troops during 1918-20 and escaping in Northern part of Ossetia, their 80% of population was a quite stable number during Soviet censuses. There was not any census in S. Ossetia after 1989; thus Georgian numbers you to give are not reliable.

Alexey, Moscow,

Typical of Russian tradition, Putin has a pathological reaction to criticism and is looking to replace the foolish Saakashvili with pro-Russian thugs as in Chechniya. Georgian and Russian chauvinism has acheived nothing but misery for people; and when the winter comes . . .

Wayne Dawson, Melbourne, Australia

Russian investigators have just announced they have got infallible proofs at time of invading in S. Ossetia Georgian troops to shot down deliberately Russian peacekeepers. I think Russians should conclude talking about withdrawal of troops until Saakashvili to be arrested.

Alexey, Moscow,

To quote Putin on US forign policy: "Comrade Wolf knows whom to eat, it eats without listening and it’s clearly not going to listen to anyone."

This time the wolf is Russia, and Georgia walked right into its mouth, now the wolf will eat and it won't stop until its full

John, Ottawa, Canada

If you want to hear a lie, listen to Russian President; if you want to hear about Russian culture, listen to Russian ambassador to the UN, if you want to hear boasting and show off power, listen to Russian general.

donglee, shanghai, chinese

You just don't know the truth. No one of you who place comments. Saakashvili is just greedy traitor. He didn't merit to be the leader of georgia's nation. He doesn't think about his people and their wealth and safety. Only about money. He must leave our country or we deport him to america ourselves!

Hipster, Tbilisi, Georgia

Are stopped! We, the inhabitants of planet we wish to live in friendship!

Irina, Novosibirsk,

Judge, jury and executioners. Stalin is dead, long live Stalin in the western press.
One day, the shoe is going to be on the other foot and they will remember duplicitous attitude towards anything anti American. I used to blame the murderous inner circle of this administration, now I see it's us

Steven Todd, Chicago, USA

It's interesting to note here
,while most of the arms and equipmen, the Georgians left behind was manufactured in either the US or Israel,..the training must have been strictly.. Israeli...as the battle tatics were the same the Israeli's used in the Lebenon,
...which was how to ,quickly run away...

George Robson, Auckland, New Zealand

John re "Zak put your head on" only 2% of south Ossetians are ethnic Russian, 25-30% were Georgian and the rest non Slav, non Russian Ossetians, an Aryan/Iranian people...they were given passports by a foreign country, Russia...and, hey presto...Russian Piecekeepers.

Dr Andris Lielmanis, Brampton, Canada.

Maciej Skiba, Chicago, USA
Georgian and American press. They are enough independent to feel free to juggle the facts.
You don't see any genocide? Probably it's hard to see it from Chicago or even your native Poland. Maybe you should take a trip to Tschinvali?

Marina, Moscow,

Russians are Imperialists. This is an embarrasment to anyone who calls themself a slav. Russia will pay many years for this putin ego trip.

Phil, New York,

Is everyone on this planet under alien mind control?The U.S. and Israel have been invading and threatening sovereign nations for decades with complete impunity.(when Palestinians wounded an Israeli embassy staff member in London(1982)The IDF invaded and killed 18,000 Lebanese .What Hypocrisy!

Stephen, Vancouver, Canada

At first I was prepared to blame Georgia for this conflict - however the Russian response is deeply disturbing and we need to stop them to save the people of Georgia from the bloodshed and anarchy inflicted on Chechya.

Dan, Winchester, England

Russia has been picking for this fight for over a year. There is no comparison to Georgia and hamaz, If so, Russia is compared to hamaz. The BIG BEAR had to flex it's muscles by attacking a rabbit. Protecting Russian citizen? No, Georgians given Russian passports. SHAM!!! Challenge a real power.

Patrick, Charleston, U.S.A.

I understand the ambiguity of the right/wrongness off RUSSNS fighting for people that claim to belong to RUSS in the break-away states(I would feel differently if i believed their motives) However there is a line and they have crossed it when moving the military further into an independent country.

Cec, Melbourne,

I didn't realize that Russians are so stupid... To Anton it wasn't the US that invaded Lebonnon but Israel.. So how is America responsible for the disproportionate use of force?? And as far as Israel attacking it was because they were being bombarbared by rockets.

Maciej Skiba, Chicago, USA

Russia thinks it can handout a few passports and all of sudden invade a country on the pretext its protecting its citiziens. What a joke. Funny thing is the Russian population is stupid enough to believe there doing the right thing.

Maciej Skiba, Chicago, USA

The U.S. has attacked the following sovereign nations,Grenada,Panama.Libya,Iraq,Afghanistan,Cuba,Serbia,Somalia Did I miss a country? Israel and the U.S., paragons of acceptable Hypocrisy.

Stephen, Vancouver, Canada

This is hilarious.. In the west we have freedom of the press, and in Russia you have the press controled by the Kremlin. Once again Valery, whose media is the one that is spreading lies? Btw dont dare mention Iraq or Kosovo cause genocide was occuring. I don't see any genocide happening in Georgia.

Maciej Skiba, Chicago, USA

Hamaz kidnap two Israeli soldiers. Israel invades Lebanon and bombs the capital of the country. The US sends more arms to Israeli army and nobody even mention "disproportionate use of force". Russia did what any country should do - protect civilians when their life is in danger.

Anton, Urjupinsk, Russia

Hamaz kidnap two Israeli soldiers. Israel invades Lebanon and bombs the capital of the country. The US sends more arms to Israeli army and nobody even mention "disproportionate use of force". Russia did what any country should do - protect civilians when their life is in danger.

Anton, Urjupinsk, Russia

The Russia-Georgia Conflict
A Two-Sided Descent Into Full-Scale War

Put this link in your browser to learn how this war started!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/16/AR2008081600502.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2008081700211

Nancy, Seattle, USA

Events in the Caucases prove once again today's Russia is no different from a Soviet era or Tsarist Russia. Invading, subjugating and terrorising people in foreign lands is what imperialistic Russia is good at. Countries 'adopted' by Russia in the old soviet bloc are glad to be free of her tyranny

Jock, London, UK

Interesting comments from both Eurosceptics and North Americans on the EU. Fact is that the EU has the lead on this and that Georgia is still an independent country, which it would no longer be had the French not broked a cease-fire on behalf of the EU.

Michael, Sheffield,

To Mike - Chechnya was granted partial independance in 1998 Khasaviurt treaty) but they immediately attacked Dagestan (a neighbouring region in Russian Caucases). Chechen terrorists (not civilians) were supplied by whoever cared to help them. Only russian presence there kept hot heads cool.

Alexandra, Moscow, Russia

John, Reading, uk:

Russian peacekepeers does not have any real weapon, moreover they have no right to battle, just police functions. That's because peaceful georgian army killed so many of them.

Wishful thinking, selective hearing, uh?

Heinrich von Ofterdingen, St-Petersburg,

Ossetia joined Russian Emp. in 1774, Georgia-1810.•
1991 S. Ossetia declare independence from Georgia,
Feb.1 1991 Georgia switched off gas, electric, and other power to Ossetia resulting in many deaths due to hypothermia. Many of these deaths occurred in hospitals and other government healthcar

Marina, Chanhassen,

Many of these deaths occurred in hospitals and other government healthcare facilities including new-born babies and their mothers.1991-1992 civil war with Georgia 4000 dead july 14 1992: Russia, Georgia, and Ossetia each formed an armed peace keeping division representing each of the three countrys

Marina, Chanhassen,

Some of our Russian posters keep bringing up whats the difference between S Ossetia and Kosovo. I would like to ask whats the difference between S Ossetia and Chechneya. So is Russia having a change of heart and allowing Chechneyan independence?

No I didn't think so

Mike, MILTON KEYNES,

John, Dublin - there WAS a referendum where they voted for independence. They declared independence from Georgia simultaneously with the latter's from USSR. Hence both regions were only parts of SOVIET Georgia, never before or after, just per Stalin's decision. Why does Georgia like USSR so much?

Sergey, Moscow, Russia

First, I would like to say that the EU is totally irrelevant. Germany, France, along with most of Western Europe have different interests compared to the Eastern Europeans. It is doubtful if the EU will endure as E. Europe will assert its interests. EE should make its own alliance versus Russia.

Virge, Toronto, Canada

The Russians are mocking and belittling the west, just completely making a fool out of the west. This is not a reflection on the west (although the west should have immediately destroyed Russia), but rather is a reflection on Russians' mental health and personality disorders.

Yuri, Moscow,

How dare Russia threaten Poland with a nuclear attack. Was it not enough when Russia stood and witnessed the slaughter of the Poles by Germany at the end of W.W.11. General Patton had the right idea when he wanted to go east and defeat this brutal nation at the conclusion of hositlities with Germany

Paul, Edinburgh, Great Britain

Zac pull your head in.. Ethnic Russians are Russians and do not need a passport to be just that. Georgia should have allowed these people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to have a referendum to decide where they want their allegiance. To deny this is Undemocratic and you know that.

John Fitzgerald, Dublin, Ireland

As it was mentioned today every reaction of Russia but capitulation would always be considered as "disproportional".

Peter, St.Petersburg, Russia

I have followed the conflict between Georgia and the South Ossetiya very well .A lot have been reported about ''the Russian agression'' however ALMOST NOTHING HAVE BEEN SAID ABOUT THE SOUTH OSSETIYA. No one wants to say anything about victims of the South Ossetiya.

Roeslan, Amsterdam,

Darren, I agree with you. The information in western mass media is being misrepresented, Russia turned to be an aggressor and Georgia - a standard peaceful country. The only hope to find the truth is the independent investigation that is now being held in Tskhinvali.

Peter, St.Petersburg, Russia

About the genius of Putin.

Putin who is a thief and a criminal and who is bringing surely Russia a catastrophic path is described by some Russians or even foreigners as genius, brillant.

It reminds me that the same words were used for Hitler about Anschluss of Austria or Tchecoslovaquia, or Poland

davidsalome, Saint Petersburg, Russia

CNN has been proven to show pictures of Tskhinvali but claiming them ot be Gori, does the times report this? Turkey stops the American Navy from entering the area, does the times report this? Does the Times report from Tskhinvali? No they do not have the strength of character, to tell the truth.

Darren, London, UK

america and their western brothers are the problems we have on earth, they went to iraq without visible reason but Russians went into georgia with a good reason, south osetians are mainly russians so why not, if i was puttin i wil get all my nuclear wepons ready for possible strike

amiejayo, london, britain

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YUGOSLAVIA IN 1999 AND GEORGIA IN 2008? Every US politician criticizing Russia must first take his time to explain this very clearly and reasonably.

Sergey, Moscow, Russia

Georgia did not strike first. Russia did by supporting and arming insurgents within Georgia and issuing Russian passports. If that isn't an act of war I don't know what is. The West must do all it can to contain Russian expansionism as a matter of urgency.

Zac, London, UK

To David Williamson, North Yorkshire, UK. Then People living in Ireland who have British Passports should move to England - from the whole Ireland island. It's the same.

Sergey, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

The EU is a total 'Con' - just read the book (previously banned) 'The Great Deception' - for the biggest SCAM in European history .... i.e. The (real) reason why the EU was formed. Then the citizens of Europe will FINALLY realise that they have been let up the garden path. Read it !

Hugh Colgan, Buckfastleigh, England

With all due respect, Russians know what is a war on their soil. Did you hear about Stalingrad, or siege of Leningrad - a home city of Putin and Medvedev? USSR lost about 15% of its population during WWII, Leningrad about 33%.

Yura, Hamden, CT, US

US is right about Russia only if they are wrong about Kosovo, Iraq, Panama, Vietnam etc. Georgia a different matter? I think, that over 1500 peace inhabitants of South Ossetia killed by the Georgian armies who were sent by madman Saakashvili, could object you...

Mikhail, Chelyabinsk, Russia

poor englishmen and americans, you have so much lies in your press.
btw, as russian military says they have information about incoming georgian provocation when their terrorists will dress russian uniform and raid to the Gori and this will be captured by cameras like russian soldier's aggression

Valery, Msk,

The Americans have fomented this. The georgian President jumped the gun. How can America deny the murder that started this and blame Russia? People liken Putin to Hitler, the fact is the Georgian President is closer in behaviour, and ambition, He wants to be Stalin, his hero so his wife says.

darren, London, UK

If there is one thing that this nonsense has highlighted, it is the complete uselesness of the EU as a competetent body. As Mr Sarkosy flies into Moscow, Mr Medvedev announces a ceasefire and hints at withdrawl from Georgia. Result, Mr Sarkosy hailed as peace broker. Humph,

Jim, Brierley Hill,

This should be a re-think on Nato. Russia should be kicked out the G8 - but that will be vetoed by Germany, France and Italy. Why does Nato continue to prop up Germany and Italy 'The Auld Alliance' ? Britain should stay close to the USA - and forget these EU-Wimps. As for Russia , let it implode.

Hugh Colgan, Buckfastleigh, England

Shoot first, discuss after: common behaviour of American and Russian! How could they even understand that European democracies discuss first and after because they know what war on own soil means? Being wise ain't being weak!

LeaZyx, Brussels, Belgium

It’s not russian aggression (or occupation) against Georgia, it was 3rd georgian genocide against ossetian people (1920, 1992, 2008). I hope that russian leaders and those european and world leaders, who are still able to think without approval from white house, will prevent the 4th genocide.

Yuliya, Nottingham, UK

And, by the way, russian peacekeepers in Gori are the only structure that can help to keep peace, cause georgian "brave" police disappeared and haven't came back yet ;)

Yuliya, Nottingham, UK

...sorry...Russia uses the fine print NOT to honour it...
Henrik, Georgia is NOT a part of the Russian empire and more than Norway is a part of the Swedish empire; but I'm glad that you used the word 'Empire', Russia is trying to reconstitute its old Imperial and Soviet "prison of nations" [Lenin]

Dr Andris Lielmanis, Brampton, Canada.

Suppose that is again a provocation from our government against Russia, as there were much of that before....

Mikhail Gibidze, Batumi, Georgia

Any war crimes that may have occured, should not go unpunished.

neil, Burnley, UK

A new confenece on peace and co-operatiion in Europe is long overdue. This sad and dangerous conflict shows how deep-rooted the problems are and how deep we can fall if this one-sided NATO expansion goes on. Bitter war of words always leads to real war. Stop hysterics, start REAL talks!

Alexey, Moscow, Russia

People living in Georgia who have Russian Passports should move to Russia. Only people loyal to Georgia as an independant country should be living within Georgia. To the others I'd give them a simple message, if you don't like Georgia go and live somewhere else and take the Russian Army with you.

David Williamson, North Yorkshire, UK

Want another rumour? Rus. Ministry of Defence has just reported (16h) that some Georgian troops and Ukranian nationalist volunteers, dressed in Rus. army uniforms, are going to be filmed as they are looting in Gori. No Rus. troops are deployed inside Gori, it was said. Hollywood participates?

Tim, Bonn,

Really funny comments below. If you don’t have your own opinion, you would better just keep a silence. And it’s not necessary to repeat information from your “free” mass-media (CNN, BBC, FOX, etc). Try to think by your own brains.

Yuliya, Nottingham, UK

Russia is not happy that Europe isn't yet dependent on Russian energy supplies. Instead of connecting in to their piplines we are securing other supplies. So Russia is trying to muscle in on those supplies.......... If they succeed expect to see 1000's more wind turbines accross our landscape.

Edward, Surrey, UK

We can't allow that America government play its electoral game in Europe. They've already bought the Georgia and Poland governments to provoke Russia. Don't be innocent.

Mark, London,

It would be foolish move by the Russians if the give in to the dictats of the west. Georgia is after all part of Russian empire, if one were to repaete Bush's wording that the two breakeaway republics were georgian parts, and so was Kosovo part of Serbia. They should stay there and take Ukrine also

Henrik, Oslo, Norway

So, Putin's Russia says one thing and does another...promises x,y and z and then uses the fine print to honour it...this is the nature of this authoritarian neo National Socialist beast...learn from these events and never ever to take its promises seriously and take its verbiage with a pinch of salt

Dr Andris Lielmanis, Brampton, Canada.

"It's as if America was proud of itself for occupying a 20 mile corridor in Mexico" says John Wisbey above. If another imperial force ever began to compete with the US for control over Mexico, the US would certainly move in militarily, just like Russia is doing in Georgia. That's how empire works.

Jesse Oldershaw, London, UK

The threat of the Russian army to start WWIII with a nuclear attack is a worry. The Russian general who made that threat should be demoted to the rank of corporal. Imagine the red lights that should have gone on in the West but probably not.

Neal, East Lansing,

Russia is right about Georgia only if they are wrong about Chechnya.

Bob N, Brisbane, Australia

Georgia is now expiriences consequences of their aggression. This will be good lesson for Saakashvili, that every action have its reaction.

Sergey, Krasnodar, Russia

What Russia is doing on the land of Georgia?
No one Saakashvily's men did cross the boarder
into Russian soil.

Vladimir Raysh, Los Angeles, USA

The incapacity of European leaders to sort this mess out and letting foreign superpowers play chess with their countries is unaccetable. How can eurosceptics be worried about the EU if this organization is not even able to find a common ground on such a crucial issue? I'm fed up with this continent

Horace, Florence, Tuscany, Italy

The late paragraph tells it all. The article is full of rumours as Tbilisi/Tiflis."Rumours from Tbilisi"- this would be a better title. Are these guys, Tony and David, in Gori indeed? They should stick their noses out of Georgian TV.

Tim, Bonn,

Another example of Russian bullying. Russia will not leave because it never had the intention of defending S. Ossetia. It is not trying to kill Georgia. It is trying to kill the IDEA of Georgia: That is free, democratic, governed by the rule of law, NATO member, and America friendly. Typical Russia!

Chris, Leeds/NYC, UK/USA

I don't understand who Russia is trying to impress. It's as if America was proud of itself for occupying a 20 mile corridor in Mexico - surely no-one ever doubted their military capacity to do this. But longer term Russia will be the loser because it has lost the trust of the West for years to come.

John Wisbey, Virginia Water, UK

"Russia...appeared to be more entrenched today" is a tricky headline aimed at demonizing Russia's defense of South Osettia. It is not "occupying" Gori neither they "appear to be more entrenched".

Those interested in Caspian oil will say anything to justify American intervention in Georgia

Zeev Reuteman, Oxford, U. K.

Is it worthed to defend a small nation who provoked a war with Russia? Apart from the oil pipe line there is not any more interest to us. How responsible they would be if they are allowed to join Nato? Democracy, who cares these day? We elected Blair and Bush only to be told lies.

Lisa, Chorley, Chorley

Does this look like the split of Germany after WW2 all over again? While Russia chides the U.S. for 'continued cold war thinking' they are guilty of continued cold war aggression. Could it be that this is their way of making the point that Russia is no longer the adversary we had during the cold war.

D Maywald, Portland, USA

The Russian troops are starting to pull out and Russian peacekeepers are coming in

Spot the difference bettwen the 2.

John, Reading, uk

Europe put up with Hitler for 12 years and accepted billions in US aid and reconstruction until your Democracy was assured. Georgia, Ukraine and many others put up with the USSR and KGB gulags for 60 years and now that they are free, Europe wont lift a finger accept to slander the USA on here.

William, Atlanta, USA

Europe put up with Hitler for 12 years and accepted billions in US aid and reconstruction until your Democracy was assured. Georgia, Ukraine and many others put up with the USSR and KGB gulags for 60 years and now that they are free, Europe wont lift a finger accept to slander the USA on here.

William, Atlanta, USA

Georgia did strike first.

Toth, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

What a farce is the "French-brokered" ceasefire. Russia agrees to withdraw but actually digs in deeper.

How irrelevant is the EU? One foreign power puts a missile shield in an EU member state, another foreign power threatens to nuke that same member state, and the EU doesn't do or say anything.

David, Washington, DC, USA

why on earth would they put up russian tv and radio transmitters if they think that they are going to leave anytime soon? surely they know that if georgia is in charge they will destroy them almost immediately.
russia is unilatereley rewriting international borders.

will, grimsby, uk