Timeline of Events in the Russians Invasion and Occupation of Georgia as of August 21 - 22, 2008

Service of the Government of Georgia

Timeline of Events in the
Russians Invasion & Occupation of Georgia
As of August 21-22 2008

22 AUGUST

14:30 Russian troops start withdrawal from Igoeti and Kaspi 25kms from Tbilisi towards Gori. Gori remains under Russian control.

14:00 100 armored vehicles start movement from Senaki towards Zugdidi. Russian troops still remain in Senaki and Poti.

12:00 Deputy Chief of Staff of Russian Army Anatoly Nogovitsin says on press conference that Russia will keep 18 checkpoints on South Ossetian-Georgian “border” and in buffer zone. The same amount of Check points and 2142 soldiers will remain on Georgian-Abkhazian “border”.

10:00 No evidence of Russian troops withdrawal is observed by 10:00

02:30 Unknown explosive device exploded in Marneuli, installed under the railway bridge – no damage reported

Reportedly antitank missile or explosive exploded under the Imiri railway bridge, Marneuli district, 25 km. south from Tbilisi. The bridge was not damaged

Russian troops dig entrenchments in village Chuberi near Enguri Power Plant. Military presence of Russian troops reported at the dam infrastructure of power plant.



21 AUGUST

23:00 According to the Minister of Defense of Russia Anatoly Serdiukov, Russian troops will start withdrawal from 00:06 on 22nd of August and will leave Georgia proper within 24 hours.

21:00 Russian troops once again fail to pullout as agreed
Russian troops again delayed the pool out of troops. According to the Commander of Russian Ground Forces Army, General Vladimir Boldirev the process of withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Georgia will take 10 days. He declared that peacekeeping checkpoints will start operating from August 22 and the remaining Russian troops will pullout in coming ten days.

19:30 Russian militaries release 10 soldiers out of 20 captured on August 19 in port of Poti.

18:00 Russians handed over to Georgian side 62 Georgian civilian hostages, most of the elderly people of 60 and more. 101 Georgian civilians still remain held in the breakaway South Ossetia’s capital, Tskhinvali.

16:00”Very little evidence” of Russian troops withdrawing, Foreign Minister of Finland and the OSCE Chair in Office Alex Stubb states.

14:00 Russia restricts freedom of movement throughout territory of Georgia
Embassy of the Russian Federation to Georgia handed over a Note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, according to which the Ministry of Defense of the RF must be in advance notified about any planned travel of all delegations and diplomats to the city of Gori.

15:00 Russians creating buffer zones
According to Anatoly Nogovitsin, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, Russian forces will establish two lines of checkpoints in “a security zone” in the vicinity of South Ossetia“. “The first line will include eight checkpoints across the line of zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers. The second line – involving 10 checkpoints – will be set across the administrative border of South Ossetia. Total of 272 soldiers will be deployed on the eight checkpoints of the first line,” he declared, and added that there will be a buffer zone between these two lines. Nogovitsin did not give any other details or specifics about the exact area of the zone; however he said that the town of Gori would not be included in the zone.

10:30 aprx. Eric Fournier blocked near Gori
Ambassador of France to Georgia Eric Fournier is being blocked near Gori by Russian troops on his way from Satchkhere to Tbilisi and is prevented to continue his drive. He has been allowed to continue at 13:00.

10:30 Russian troops digging entrenchments in Poti

• Russian occupants start digging entrenchments in Poti. Russian `BMP` armored vehicles and `URAL` trucks are located at the Nabadi territory at the entrance of the city.

As reported, Russian troops open fire at Humanitarian Airplanes above Gori.