We occasionally receive contributions from Andrei Novikov, an opposition journalist and government critic who was once committed to involuntary psychiatric confinement by the authorities in response to some of his publications. Below Novikov shares his thoughts (and quite passionate opinons) on the war, and, as always, his article does not represent those of Robert Amsterdam, this blog, or its editors. His article was written before President Dmitry Medvedev extended official recognition to South Ossetia and Abkhazia. RUSSIAN AGGRESSION IN THE TRANS-CAUCASUS Andrey Novikov, independent journalist The Russian armed forces (bolstered by reinforcements: with the participation of the 58th army and strategic aviation), not having any mandate of the UNO or other international European organizations, have entered INTO THE TERRITORY of Georgia and are implementing aggression against the country’s sovereignty. International organizations of the European Union, NATO and the UNO must immediately send into the zone of conflict their international peacekeepers with the aim of preventing the further escalation thereof. Relations between Georgia and South Ossetia can be resolved only in a European international format, as the problem of Kosovo in the former Yugoslavia was resolved. As of today one ought to proceed from the following scheme: “South Ossetia – is the TERRITORY of Georgia, but an ETHNIC AUTONOMY within the framework of Georgia.” Linking the ethnic and territorial question is not exactly correct. (IMAGE: The Four Horsemen of the Apocolypse: Russia, Georgia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia. Source.)