Chronology: Events in the South Ossetia, Abkhazia Crisis
August 26, 2008
August 7: After mutual bombardments of towns in both Georgia and South Ossetia, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili orders a cease-fire. But in a surprise move, his forces then attack Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian capital. According to Georgian accounts, this began after Russian forces were already moving from North Ossetia towards South Ossetia through the Roki tunnel.
August 8: Saakashvili orders a general military mobilization of Georgia's regular and reserve forces. He calls on Russia to stay out of the conflict. By evening, the military conflict has taken on war-like proportions with numerous dead and wounded.
August 9: The Russian Air Force bombs targets located in core Georgian territory. In addition, Georgian positions in Abkhazia and on the Black Sea come under attack.
August 10: Abkhazia imposes martial law. The pro-Moscow rulers order a general mobilization of their forces.
August 12: Russia and Georgia agree to a cease-fire brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the current holder of the EU's rotating presidency.
August 14: South Ossetia and Abkhazia approve the cease-fire agreement.
August 15: Saakashvili puts his signature to a six-point European Union-brokered peace plan. It foresees a cease-fire and the withdrawal of troops.
August 16: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signs the peace plan.
August 18: By their own account, Russian forces begin to pull out of core regions of Georgia.
August 19: In sharp language, NATO and the EU demand Russia's immediate troop withdrawal from Georgia. Russia says it plans to complete the pullout by August 22, but would leave protective forces behind at certain checkpoints. The move draws international criticism.
August 20: Russia announces a freeze to cooperation with NATO. In the diplomatic tug-of-war seeking a United Nations resolution on the Georgia conflict, Russia presents its own draft resolution.
August 22: By its own account, Russia completes its pullout. But several hundred soldiers remain behind in order to control so-called buffer zones around Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
August 25: Russian lawmakers in both the upper and lower houses of parliament unanimously vote for recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
August 26: President Medvedev announces Russia's recognition of the two breakaway regions' independence. Western politicians are critical of the Russian decree.