Ok, so I am Daniel Usenko, the person who wrote the post. (by the way, you can go directly to the post, which is here: http://danielusenko.wordpress.com/ and if you are doubting the fact that its me, please write to my email that you’ll find on the website and I will confirm it ) Obviously there is much confusion about the info that I presented, so I will try my best to answer the numerous concerns I read about on this forum. My points are the following:
1. I am NOT a “Russian living off of American Taxpayers in the USA”. Who even put that up? I never said that. I am a Russian who has lived in Seattle WA for the past 12 years, PAYING taxes, not living off of them.
2. PERSONAL HISTORY: My dad is Ukrainian, mom is Russian. I was born in Russia, but grew up in Sukhumi, capital of Abkhazia. I was 7 years old when the war of 1992 started between Abkhazia, Georgia and South Ossetia. I have many crazy stories of near death experiences (as you can imagine). Thankfully my family survived. At 8 years old we moved to Russia. At 11 years old I moved to the USA.
3. HISTORY: Here is a brief history of the Caucus land. Pre-Soviet situation: Abkhazia, Georgia and Ossetia are independent and separate. When the Soviets came into power, they absorbed the three nations as “republics”. When Stalin came into power, he decided that he should expand Georgia, since he himself is Georgian and have Abkhazia and Ossetia to Georgia (he took away the status of “republic” or “autonomous” from those two). When the Soviet Union broke up, Abkhazia and Georgia also wanted to separate from Georgia, and a war broke out (1992). This is the war I lived through. A year later the war ended and Abkhazians, Ossetians and Georgians agreed to keep the three separate. Now, when current Georgian President Saakashvili was running for office, he got elected because he promised to get Abkhazia and Ossetia back. So several days ago, he was trying to fulfill his promise, get them back.
4. It seems that people are confused why I am sure that Georgians would attack Abkhazia and slaughter my family that lives there. Well I do not have formal proof, but the reason I am sure of it is because I know the history and the dynamic of the place. I know that Georgians hate Abkhazians and are bitter about the loss of the 1992 war, and that Abkhazians can’t stand Georgians. I have been through the conflict and I know the hatred between ethnic groups there—everybody has someone killed by the other side during the 1992 war, so just trust me, it’s bad. Plus, I have relatives there that are scared to death that Georgians might attack them because they know they want to. Saakashvili has become president of Georgia because he promised to take Abkhazia and Ossetia back. And also, there were military maps found that revealed Georgia’s plans.
5. BRUTALITY: Most of you do not realize how brutal those wars are. I have heard numerous stories (not from the media, but from civilians there). For instance, I have heard a story how a pregnant woman and her husband (civilians) were taken by soldiers simply because they were of the different ethnicity; they took them to the forrest; the husband was tied to the tree, woman raped in front of him, then they jumped on top of her stomach to kill the baby, and then killed all of them.
6. RUSSIA—I am not a supporter of Russia just because I am Russian. I honestly do believe those that say Putin has evil agenda. But I am not a so concerned of the treatment of Russia, as I am concerned about how American backs Georgia. The bottom line is that Georgia started the war and Saakashvili is lying about...well, almost everything. Yes, the Russia striked back, and I am sure they killed the civilians too. And yes, it is wrong to go into civilian towns and kill innocent people. I am NOT saying Russia is innocent. What I AM saying is that Georgia is who started this war, regardless of how you put it (even if you say “russia would’ve attacked anyways—what kind of argument is that. You can’t punch your little brother and then say “he would punch me first if I didn’t punch him first”. Ridiculous). What I AM saying is that Russia is right to protect Ossetia, even though they may not be doing it the best way possible. And what I AM saying is that the media is lying to us.
7. BIAS BIAS—So this seems the heart of the problem. Most of you are blaming me for “Being a Russian citizen who is biased” and “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about because his family is in the pro-Russian Abkhazia”, and so forth. I am obviously blaming the United States for being bias and lying. And so it goes back and forth back and forth. You yell “lier” and I respond with the same.
So here is my response to all those who have dismissed all that I have said with statements like “Oh, he’s just brainwashed by Putin and his media”, “Oh, he’s Russian, he has a bias”, and so on.
A. I have lived in the States for over half of my life and I would rather see America do well because it is good for me—I live here. I have supported America in the war on Iraq (I really thought they had good will). Basically, I would want to rather be part of a country that is the good guy, and it would be nice to say “I left an evil empire and now I am here with the good guys”
B. I realize that I may be one-sided, and I apologize for that. I do believe, honestly, that the Russia regime AS A WHOLE has evil aspirations. I do not believe they conducted themselves as well as they should’ve with this conflict.
C. So it is easy to believe that I, a person who lived in the region and has heard BOTH sides of the story, that I am being biased, but why doesn’t anyone of you ask yourself where you’re getting your info from? The American media. Stop for a second and think—maybe you’re being lied to? Basically my point here—there is more reason to think you’re brainwashed than I am because my information sources are numerous, but yours are mostly the American media. And also, I do understand that it is hard to believe that EVERYONE is just lying. I know, it’s crazy, I can’t believe it myself. By hey, please do hear the other side.
There have been so many questions and concerns, and I cannot answer them all. PLEASE PLEASE, if you have a question to me, do not put it on this blog; instead email me at photodu@gmail.com or call me directly and I’ve love to talk—425.772.3037.
daniel
Georgia Response to communist information campaign, which has dominated the press:
http://georgiamfa.blogspot.com/2008/08/timeline-by-12th-of-august-0700.html
12 August
03:25 Russian envoy to the UN Churkin announced in a press conference that Russia will not support the resolution. Georgian envoy Alasania announced that the suggested resolution is acceptable to Georgia.
02:15 Emergency meeting of the Security Council of the UN started. The resolution about cease-fire prepared by France was discussed.
02:05 Russian aviation bombarded Kaspi 30 Kms from Tbilisi out of conflict zone. 3 bombs were dropped near the Heidelberg Cement factory (one of two cement factories in the country). No damage was reported.
01:15 President of the United States George W. Bush made supportive statement to Georgia. "Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century," the president said in a televised statement from the White House, calling on Moscow to sign on to the outlines of a cease-fire as the Georgian government has done
11 August
20:30 Russian Army took Gori and cut main highway connecting Western and Eastern parts of the country.
20:10 The invading army of the Russian Federation has advanced outside the conflict zones of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Russian army units moved towards the city of Gori. The Georgian army is retreating to defend the capital. The Government is urgently seeking international intervention to prevent the fall of Georgia and the further loss of life.
19:30 Russian troopes advanced deep into Georgian territory from west and entered Senaki 210 Kms from Tbilisi, out of the conflict zone.
19:20 US deputy assistant secretary made supportive announcement to Georgia. He mentioned that, time would come when International Peace keeping force will enter Georgia and restore Georgia’s territorial Integrity.
19:00 The camp for IDPs was opened in Tbilisi.
18:20 Ossetian separatist forces entered village Beloti near Eredvi. They took hostage remaining civilian population and locked them in local church.
18:10 Russian Troops attacked and took village Shindisi of Gori district.
17:30 Russian Aviation bombed village Kere of Gori District.
Russian peace keepers with heavy equipment entered Zugdidi to disarm local police. By 17:00 they began to occupy administrative buildings. http://www.gpb.ge/moambe_news.php?lang=geo&tm_id=0&news_id=16206
14:30 Senaki base is bombed by Russian aviation.
13:30 President Saakashvili signs a ceasefire agreement, prepared by the foreign ministers of France, Finland, and Georgia. The foreign ministers of France and Finland are taking the agreement to Moscow in order to persuade President Medvedev to sign it.
http://www.gpb.ge/moambe_news.php?lang=eng&tm_id=0&news_id=16190
12:05 Russian aviation is bombing Georgian servicemen in Upper Abkhazia.
10:00 Village of Eredvi came under the fire of Russian artillery.
07:15 Senaki airport is bombed by Russian airplanes.
06:10 Gori tank battalion is bombed. A civilian apartment building nearby has been hit.
05:00 Shiraki airfield in Dedoplistskaro District on the east of the country is bombed by Russian jets.
04:37 Civilian radar station on Makhata mount in 5 kilometers from downtown Tbilisi is bombed by Russian planes.
03:05 Villages of Sharabidzeebi, Kapandichi, Makho near Batumi are bombed by Russian planes. Graveyard and villagers’ backyard have been hit. No casualties
00:30 Civilian radar station in the village of Shavshvebi west of Tbilisi is bombed by Russian planes.
00:00 Five wounded policemen transported to Zugdidi hospital from Upper Abkhazia.
10 August
20:00 Positional fighting near village of Qvabchara in Upper Abkhazia.
19:10 "Tbilaviamsheni" aviation factory was bombarded by Russian aviation again.
19:05 Russian aviation dropped bomb on Tbilisi International Airport.
18:00 The Black Sea town of Anaklia 280 km from Tbilisi, is bombed by Russian airplanes. No casualties reported
17:30 Georgian Ministry of Foreign affairs handed diplomatic note to the Charg d’affaires of Russian embassy Mr Smag. According to the order of the president Georgia, Georgian Government forces stopped fire in the conflict zone.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Karasin announced the terms of ceasefire. Georgia have to withdraw on the positions existing before the beginning of the conflict and take responsibility of non use of force.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation announced that journalists wanting to enter Russian-Georgian conflict zone have to have special accreditation from Ministry of Defense and second accreditation from Ministry of Foreign affairs of Russia.
16:10 Russian aviation bombarded only remaining bridge on the Highway linking eastern and western parts of the country. There was a fire on the bridge. Fire is extinguished. The traffic is restored.
16:05 Gori is being bombed by Russian aviation.
15:10 Russian troops and Abkhaz separatists launch ground attack on Upper Abkhazia. The region is being bombed by Russian aviation.
15:00 Russian airplanes bomb the village of Knolevi in the northern Kareli district.
12:00 20 to 25 thousand IDPs from the regions of Tskhinvali and Gori, as a result of Russian attacks. The number of IDPs is growing quickly.
09:00 Government of Georgia reported 45 soldiers and 47 civilians died.
08:45 Ten Russian jets attack Upper Abkhazia. One jet has been downed by Georgian Government troops.
07:40 Russian jets bomb village of Urta in Zugdidi district.
07:00 Georgian Government Forces withdraw from Tskhinvali. Russian General Khrulyov, commander of the invading 58th army was wounded after shelling Russian military convoy by Georgian artillery.
05:45 Russian jet entered Georgian airspace from Dagestan and dropped 3 Bombs on Tbilisi airplane factory.
6,000 Russian troops enter Georgia through Roki tunnel overnight; 90 tanks; 150 Armored Personnel Carriers; 250 artillery gunships.
4,000 Russian troops land at port of Ochamchire in Abkhazia, from Black Sea port of Sevastopol.
9 August
22:30 Russian air forces bombarded Chkhalta, administrative center of Upper Abkhazia. No Casualties reported.
19:45 Tskhinvali is under ultimate control of Georgian Government troops. Russian Navy prevented Moldovan Cargo Ship Lotus - 1 carrying wheat from entering Poti Port. Lotus - 1 was forced to go back.
16:35 The town of Oni in northern Georgia is bombarded by Russian aviation.
16:15 Two Russian battleships are heading towards Poti port. By this time they are near Gudauta.
16:05 Four Russian jets flew over Upper Abkazia.
15:45 Abkhaz separatist leader Sergey Bagapsh announced the launch of bombardment of Upper Abkhazia.
14:30 The Parliament approved ordinance of the Declaration on the State of War and full mobilization.
14:00 Russian air force attack Upper Abkhazia (Kodori gorge) in several places, including the airdrome in the village of Omarishara.
12:40 Kopitnari airdrome is bombed again.
10:22 Russian air force continues to bomb Gori, located 60 kilometers northwest from Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone.
10:20 One more Russian military airplane is shot down in Gori, located 60 kilometers northwest from Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone. The pilot has been captured.
10:00 Russian air force bomb Kopitnari airdrome in several kilometers from Kutaisi. The entire 58th Russian Army, located in the North Caucasus, enters the South Ossetia region. They are engaged in battle with the Georgian army in Tskhinvali, which is in the conflict zone and 92 kilometers northwest from Tbilisi.
01:20 Gatchiani in the Gardabani districts was bombarded, which is 20 kilometers southeast of Tbilisi and outside the conflict zone and is also close to the BTC pipeline, but the pipeline is not damaged.
01:00 Poti was bombarded a second time, which is located on the Black Sea coast, 260 kilometers west from Tbilisi, is outside the conflict zone and is a pure civilian target.
00:34 Person calling himself "Armen" calls the 022 Patrol Police number and says a bomb is planted in President’s Residence. He also says the new President Administration and Ministry of Internal Affair buildings will soon be bombarded.
00:20 Vaziani airfield is bombed again, which is 2-3 kilometers from Tbilisi International Airport and is located outside the conflict zone.
00:17 Lightening bombs are dropped on Senaki military base, which is 213 kilometers west of Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone. 1 serviceman and 5 reservists were reported killed. The railway station in Senaki is also bombed and eight are killed.
00:12 Poti port, which is located on the Black Sea coast, 260 kilometers west from Tbilisi, is outside the conflict zone and is a pure civilian target, is bombed heavily.
8 August
22:40 According to Ministry of Defense, Russian planes violated Georgian airspace a total of 22 times.
22:15 The type and place of Russian planes taken down during the day not located yet.
21:45 Policemen and reservists who were surrounded in the Znauri school bulding, five kilometers west of Tskinvali, are rescued by government forces.
21:11 The separatist authorities claim to have altogether 1400 people dead and wounded. At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defense announces that there are 10 dead among Russian "peacekeepers".
20:30 After severe clashes in Tskinvali, Georgian forces start to withdraw from the center of the town, holding their positions at its southern outskirts. Russian tanks enter the eastern part of Tskinvali.
19:20 2 Russian planes pass over Ambrolauri, which is 170 kilometers northwest of Tbilisi and is outside the conflict zone.
19:18 5 Russian airplanes were shot down during the day. Last one is shot down at approximately 19:00 near Tskhinvali.
18:45 Georgian Gori artillery brigade is bombarded by 5 Russian airplanes.
18:44 A motorcade of Russian tanks, armored vehicles and trucks loaded with different kinds of weapons reach Tskinvali by the Dzara by-pass road, 2 kilometers west of Tskinvali. The Russians opens intensive fire towards Georgian forces located in Tskinvali and on the neighboring heights. A second motorcade, which also came from Russia via the Roki tunnel, is stopped near the Georgian government controlled area of Dmenisi, 7 kilometers north of Tskinvali, and Russians open heavy fire toward Georgian forces.
18:32 Frone gorge, northeat of Tskinvali, is under intensive artillery fire by Russian forces. Villages Avnevi and Phrisi, in the Tskinvali region, are bombarded by Russian military aircraft.
17:35 Marneuli military airbase, 20 kilometers south of Tbilisi and outside the conflict zone, is bombed for the third time resulting in 1 death and 4 injured. As a result of three bombings, three grounded AN-2 type planes and military vehicles stationed there are destroyed.
17:00 Marneuli military airbase is bombed for the second time causing casualties.
16.30 Russian aviation bombs Marneuli and Bolnisi military airbases, 20 kilometers and 35 kilometers south of Tbilisi respectively. Two aircrafts were destroyed on ground. Also several buildings were destroyed and there are casualties.
16:03 Two Russian planes enter Georgian airspace from the North. One more flies over Djava. Two more fly across the border near Chechnya.
16:00 about 40 officers of Criminal Police and Reservists are trapped in Znauri school.
15:30 Ossetian separatists destroyed 3 Georgian tanks at Dzari by-pass road.
15:05 Russian military plane enters Georgia from the direction of Tedzami, just south of Gori, and drop two bombs on the Vaziani military airport and turned back.
14.30 Almost 100% of Tskhinvali is controlled by Georgian forces. Just several small groupings are still resisting.
14.15 Georgian government announces a ceasefire from 15.00 till 18.00 to let civilian population leave Tskhinvali. Separatists are also offered amnesty and humanitarian aid if they surrender.
13:00 Part of Thskinvali is controlled by Georgian army and fighting continues in the center. The civilian population does not resist. They are ordered to stay inside their houses.
12.05 One Su-24 enters Georgian air space from Russia and remained over Tskhinvali till 12.15.
12.00 Eight Georgians (6 military and 2 civilians) have died and 87 are injured. 1 military truck with ammunition was destroyed.
11:45 Emergency Service of Civil Aviation report receiving a signal from a crashed flying object (presumably Russian fighter plane) near Iuri range, 17 km south from Gori.
11.45: Four Su-24 Russian jet enter Georgia from the direction of Stepantsminda (Kazbeg), northeast of the Roki tunnel and outside of the conflict zone. Two of them pass Tbilisi and make two circles around Marneuli. The other two make a circle above Gudauri.
10:57: Two of the six Russian aircraft drop three bombs in Gori. One of these fell near the stadium, the second near Gorijvari slope and third near an artillery brigade.
10.50: Six Su-24 fighter planes enter from the Roki pass.
10.30 Russian Su-24 bombs the village of Variani in the Kareli district, 75 kilometers west of Tbilisi and outside the conflict zone. Seven civilians were injured as a result.
9.45: A Russian military fighter plane drops about 3-5 bombs near the village of Shavshvebi, on the highway between Poti and Tbilisi and is 300-500 meters from Georgian military radar.
9:00 Georgian Forces control the villages of Gromi, Artsevi, Tsinagara, Znauri, Sarabuki, Khetagurovo, Atotsi, Kvemo Okuna, Dmenisi, Muguti and Didmukha.
8:00: First group of Russian troops together with Gufta Bridge are destroyed by a Georgian aerial bombardment. Later two more groups of Russian troops enter South Ossetia through the Roki tunnel, which connects Russia and Georgia, but could not cross the Gufta Bridge which was destroyed and moved by the Geri-Dmenisi road.
5:30: First Russian troops enter through Roki tunnel South Ossetia, passed Java, crossed Gufta bridge and moved by Dzara road towards Tskhinvali.
4:28: Georgian armed forces are in control of six villages in the Tskhinvali region: Muguti, Dmenisi, Didmukha, Okona, Akut and Kohati. It is also reported that Georgian forces entered the village of Khetagurovo.
2:45: Reports are received of Georgian troops occupying the villages of Didmukha, Muguti and Dmenisi.
7 August
During the night and early morning intensive fire came from the Ossetian villages of Khetagurovo, Dmenisi, Sarabuki, and Ubiat. Separatist authorities continued shelling Georgian law enforcers and Peacekeeping units with mortars and artillery. The central authorities responded with limited fire in order to defend the positions.
In the morning interview with Russian news agencies, South Ossetian de facto president Eduard Kokoity declared that if the Georgian government did not withdraw its military forces from the region, he would start "to clean them out."
President Saakashvili speaking with journalists in the military hospital in Gori, where he visited the two injured Georgian servicemen, said that despite attacks on the Georgian villages, Tbilisi was showing "maximum restraint." Saakashvili also called on Russia to "to recall its officials" from South Ossetia, who consider themselves as the so-called South Ossetian government.
Temur Yakobashvili, visited the conflict zone in the morning of August 7 to meet with representatives of the separatist government. The State Minister met with Marat Kulakhmetov, commander of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces, in Tskhinvali. But, the separatists refused to negotiate with him.
The chairman of the separatist republic’s Security Council, Anatoly Barankevich threatened that armed groupings of Cossacks from North Ossetia were headed towards South Ossetia to fight against Georgian forces.
The separatists resumed shelling of Georgian villages Nuli and Avnevi by 16:00. Three Georgian servicemen were injured after the South Ossetian separatist forces blew up an infantry combat vehicle belonging to the Georgian peacekeeping battalion in Avnevi. Georgian police responded by firing towards the separatist armed grouping in village Khetagurovo, where two separatist militiamen were killed and two more wounded. Later, the check-point of Georgian peacekeepers was bombed in Avnevi and several Georgian servicemen and civilians were killed.
Georgia has decided to "unilaterally cease fire" in a sign of Tbilisi’s willingness to defuse tensions, Temur Yakobashvili, the Georgian state minister for reintegration, announced at a press conference in Tbilisi at 6:40pm. Yakobashvili said that he was not able to get in touch with the separatist authorities.
President Saakashvili said in a live televised address made at 7:10pm, that he had ordered the Georgian forces to cease fire in South Ossetia. He said there were casualties, both dead and many people wounded. Saakashvili said that he ordered to cease fire "on purpose" to again offer the South Ossetian secessionists to resume talks.
Despite Georgia’s decision not to return fire, the Georgian village of Avnevi again came under fire of the South Ossetian militiamen at about 8:30pm. It can be said that the village was totally destroyed as a result.
The South Ossetian separatist armed groupings fired at the Georgian-controlled village of Prisi at about 10:30 pm. The attack left several people wounded on the Georgian side.
The separatist authorities opened fire at all Georgian positions around the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali at about 23:30, including the villages of Tamarasheni and Kurta. The police stations in Kurta was destroyed as a result of heavy shelling.
According to witnesses from local population, at about 9.45 a military fighter plane, presumably Russian (it entered Georgia from South Ossetian side) dropped off about 3-5 bombs near village Shavshvebi, 300-500 meters from Georgian military radar.
6 August
Late on 6 August, separatists opened mortar fire at Georgian populated villages of Eredvi, Prisi, Avnevi, Dvani and Nuli. Georgian government forces fired back in order to defend the positions and civilian population. As a result of intensive cross-fire during the night, two servicemen of the Georgian battalion of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces were injured. Separatist regime also claimed several injured persons on their side. Despite the targeted attacks on peaceful population and villages, as well as on the Georgian police and peacekeeping forces, the central authorities decided not to respond through heavy exchange of fire, in order not to injure the local population.
Temur Yakobashvili, Georgian chief negotiator and state minister for reintegration, said in late night televised remarks on August 6 that it was the position of the Georgian government that only a direct dialogue with Tskinvali authorities would solve the deteriorating security situation. Mr. Yakobashvili also stressed that Ambassador-at-large Yuri Popov would attend the talks as a facilitator. South Ossetian chief negotiator, Boris Chochiev, refused to take part in negotiations.
During 4 and 5 August no serious incidents have been observed.
3 August
South Ossetian separatist government announced evacuation of more than 500 people, including about 400 children. However, Ermak Dzansolov, deputy prime minister of Russia’s North Ossetian Republic, told Interfax news agency that it was not an evacuation. Sending children to North Ossetia was part of a pre-arranged summer-camp programme, as he explained.
Russian media outlets started a massive propaganda campaign against Georgia.
South Ossetian media sources reported on the mobilization of volunteers across the North Caucasus.
2 August
Six civilians and one Georgian policeman were injured after the shelling of Georgian villages in the South Ossetian conflict zone overnight. The Georgian-controlled villages of Zemo Nikozi, Kvemo Nikozi, Nuli, Avnevi, Eredvi and Ergneti came under intense fire from the South Ossetian separatists with large calibre mortars. Georgian law enforcers shot back defensively for some time, but then received an order of ceasefire in order not to escalate the situation.
1 August
At about 8:00 AM, Tbilisi time, a pickup vehicle with six Georgian police officers was hit by two remote control explosive devices on the Eredvi-Kheiti by-pass road linking the Didi Liakhvi Gorge – a Georgian enclave north of the breakaway region’s capital Tskhinvali - with Georgia proper. As a result of the attack, five Georgian policemen were severely wounded. The central authorities decided not to retaliate in order not to escalate the situation.
Have you looked at the Goergian side, how the communists, after taking downs Georgia's ability to respond by hitting their IT infrastructure, bombarded teh media with lies about a "genocide"?
Most people in the West think Georgia started this, by invading Ossetia to unify the country. That isn't true. They responded to ongoing and attacks by Ossetians and Russian "peacekeepers".
