Russia annexes additional Georgian lands

WASHINGTON – On July 10, the Russian occupation forces in the separatist territory of South Ossetia (Tskhinvali region) moved the occupation line deeper into Georgia, thus effectively slicing off additional lands in the Georgian villages of Tsitelubani and Orchosani. Russian troops erected new signs, marking what they call a “state border” between South Ossetia and the rest of Georgia. As a result of these activities, a small portion of the 520-mile (830-kilometer) Baku-Supsa oil pipeline, which daily transports 100,000 barrels of Azerbaijani oil to Georgia’s Black Sea cost, fell under Russian control (Channel 1 TV, Rustavi 2, July 11). Moreover, all these developments took place in striking proximity to the highly strategic East-West highway, the key transportation artery connecting the eastern part of Georgia to its western regions. Russians came to within just over a half mile (about 1,000 yards) from the highway – so close, in fact, that from these new Russian positions, one can actually see with the naked eye individual vehicles moving along the road (Channel1 TV, Imedi TV, Rustavi 2, July 11). If needed, Russian forces stationed along the current occupation line could capture and block that section of the East-West highway within 15 minutes. Were Tbilisi to lose control over the highway, it would split Georgia into two parts, causing a major political as well as humanitarian catastrophe in the country. (Eurasia Daily Monitor)