Georgia: Gori evacuated as fears of Russian advance into Georgia grow

A full-scale evacuation of the Georgian city of has Gori started as fears rose that Russia would soon advance its troops across the border from the breakaway republic of South Ossetia into the main body of Georgia itself.

A Georgian woman leaves her damaged home in Gori Photo: REUTERS

Russian troops ride in their armored vehicles in Sukhumi, the capital of Georgia's breakaway province of Abkhazia Photo: AP

Any such incursion would be a dangerous escalation of a conflict that has already reportedly claimed thousands of lives and displaced thousands more. Russia, which said it moved into South Ossetia last week to protect pro-Russians there from "genocide" commited by Georgians, has now been accused of "ethnic cleansing" itself. Russia regained total control of Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, and Georgia offered a unilateral ceasefire as it withdrew all its troops.

International opinion hardened against Russia, which has been roundly accused of a "disproportionate reaction" to Georgia's move into South Ossetia last week. Jim Jeffrey, the US's deputy National Security Advisor, told reporters: "We have made it clear to the Russians that if the disproportionate and dangerous escalation on the Russian side continues, that this will have a significant long-term impact on US-Russian relations."

But American diplomats conceded that the US had few options and ruled out military intervention on behalf of Georgia.

Our army was overstretched against Iraq and Afghanistan unable to consider what little MIGHT be required in Iran. Russia is very secure in the knowledge that the only thing opposed to them now is opinions, something they have never in their HISTORY considered.

They have money, oil, gas, and are restocking those things which create political reality, the tools which create the result on the battlefield. They are willing to use them. They use our discomfiture and the war with jihadism to ensure they can pick out an ally and take him out as was done previously in Hungary during the Sinai War in 1956.

Our ambassador needs to confront them NOW, EARLY and advise them that not only do we consider this an unfriendly act, but it will cause us to redouble our efforts at missile defense which includes Europe, and Georgia, and since they have demonstrated their willingness to invade an ally, ensure that that missile defense is potent enough to free our allies from their ability to blackmail them.

The ambassador should then be recalled publicly to the USA.