The Russo-Georgian War was a brief armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia and Russia, along with the Russian-backed separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Tension had risen in the summer around South Ossetia, and in the night of 7 to 8 August Georgian forces shelled the regional capital Tskhinvali. Russia responded by sending troops into South Ossetia and then deeper into Georgia, and also opened a second front in Abkhazia. A ceasefire mediated by the French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who held the European Union presidency, was agreed on 12 August. Later in August Russia recognised the independence of the two regions, which most other states have not done. An independent EU inquiry concluded that Georgia had opened the fighting but that Russia's response went well beyond the limits of defence.
Before and after
- 7 June 2008Establishment of Vatnajökull National Park
- 21 June 2008Release of WALL-E
- 13 July 2008Founding of Union for the Mediterranean
- 3 August 2008Death of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
- from 7 August 2008 to 12 August 2008Russo-Georgian War
- 15 August 2008Discovery of Aegaeon
- 17 August 2008Michael Phelps wins eight gold medals in Beijing
- 18 August 2008Uzbin Valley ambush
- 28 August 2008Construction of Shanghai World Financial Center
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The era
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