Carnegie Moscow Center
The August 2008 war resulted in Russia’s recognition of the sovereignty of both Abkhazia and South Ossetia and the deterioration of both regions’ relationship with Tbilisi. Now, reconciliation with the divided communities is one of the main priorities for the Georgian government.
Russia faces a range of challenges as it attempts to modernize and effectively use its power on the global stage in the coming decade.
In recent years, Turkey’s foreign policy has undergone a fundamental transformation and the country has begun to play a more aggressive and assertive role.
The Nagorny Karabakh conflict remains a source of potential instability for the South Caucasus region and for neighboring countries. Lessons learned from the history of the Karabakh peace process can be applied to today's dialogue.
In 2010, the overall security situation in the North Caucasus was worse than in 2009, although statistics show an improvement in Chechnya and Ingushetia.
The choice of Sochi as the host city for the 2014 Winter Olympics has prompted debate over the “Cherkessian issue,” sparking an upsurge in activity and division among Cherkessian public organizations.
The consequences of the Georgia-Abkhazia, Georgia-South Ossetia, and Georgia-Russia conflicts pose problems for each of the parties involved. There is an obvious need to adopt a plan to strengthen mutual trust and prevent further bloodshed in the region.
Although Russia has officially recognized South Ossetia’s independence, neither Tskhinvali nor Moscow has clearly outlined the goals of a new state project or set out the mechanisms for its further development.
The North Caucasus have been marked recently by renewed instability and violence and Russian officials have publicly acknowledged that the region poses a serious problem for their country.
Despite democratic reforms, a volatile political environment and an unsustainable economy continue to threaten Georgia's stability.