On September 30, 2009 Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini (Switzerland), Head of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia (IIFFMCG) established by the European Union, presented the results of the investigation conducted by the IIFFMCG to representatives of Georgia, the Russian Federation, the European Union, the United Nations and the OSCE.

As is known, Russia did not participate in the creation of the IIFFMCG in December 2008. Nevertheless, we responded to the Mission’s inquiries in a serious and responsible manner. Heidi Tagliavini has long been known in Russia as an authoritative Swiss diplomat capable of independent assessments and conclusions. Numerous documents on military, legal and humanitarian aspects of 2008 tragedy were transmitted by Russia to the Mission’s members and experts. Official representatives of competent Russian ministries and departments repeatedly met with Ms.Tagliavini and her team, providing them with detailed explanations of the nature and sequence of the August events.

In our opinion, the efforts of the EU’s Mission have not been wasted – from the report published on September 30, 2009, any sane person would come to the core conclusion that the aggression against South Ossetia on the night of August 7-8, 2008 was unleashed by the current leadership of Georgia. Ultimately, it is the main outcome of the work of the “Tagliavini Commission”. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine otherwise, if one recalls the content of Order #2 to the Chief of staff of the 4th infantry brigade of Georgia’s armed forces: “The task force shall carry out a combat operation in the Samachablo (South Ossetia) region and rout the enemy within 72 hours. Georgia’s jurisdiction shall be restored in the region”. It is also important that the published document clearly points at the states which armed and trained the Georgian army.

The report of the IIFFMCG gives additional food for thought over the risk of counting on the use of force to resolve conflicts and shows how such adventures lead to a breakdown in the territorial integrity of states and to the exacerbation of international tension in general.

The abundance of facts and evidence before the Mission clearly indicate those bearing full responsibility for the tragedy and, thereby we hope, prevent the recurrence of such criminal acts in the future.

It is important that the international community should not once again – two years after tragedy – miss the opportunity to take a close look at the findings contained in the report of the Mission. Some vague and ambiguous language there, we understand, reflects the still lingering politicized approaches of many EU countries to the events of August 2008 and their consequences. However that cannot overshadow the main conclusion of the report about Tbilisi’s guilt for unleashing an aggression against peaceful South Ossetia and the complete illegitimacy of Georgia’s actions.