(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in Germany think a recent conflict between Russia and Georgia over two Georgian separatist regions could be the first in a string of similar events, according to a poll by Emnid released by N24. 60 per cent of respondents think Russia could stake further territorial claims along its borders in the near future, while 34 per cent disagree.

According to international regulations, South Ossetia and Abkhazia belong to Georgia—a former Soviet republic. In the early 1990s, both pro-Russian regions became de facto independent but failed to be fully recognized as sovereign nations. Separatist forces operate in both regions. Georgia is currently led by pro-Western politicians and is in talks to enter the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

On Aug. 7, the Georgian government sent troops into South Ossetia in a surprise attack to assert sovereignty over the region. The following day, Russian tanks entered South Ossetia and confronted the Georgian army. The Russian government claimed that it was acting in defence of Russian citizens living in the region. In recent years, Russia has handed Russian passports to the vast majority of South Ossetia residents. Russian troops occupied South Ossetia and other parts of Georgia, and some disturbances were reported in Abkhazia as well.

On Aug. 12, French president Nicolas Sarkozy—whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU)—brokered a cease fire which included a commitment by Russia to withdraw its forces from Georgian territory.

Russia has now pulled out most of its troops from central and Western Georgia. Russian soldiers are still present in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

On Aug. 25, Russian lawmakers unanimously passed a resolution asking Russian president Dmitry Medvedev to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent nations. The following day, Medvedev signed a decree formally acknowledging the independence of both regions.

On Sept. 5, German vice-chancellor and foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for an international inquiry into the Georgia-Russia conflict led by the United Nations (UN) or the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), adding, "Perhaps it will never be fully cleared up. But I urge both sides to be open to an independent inquiry into the events of early August."

Polling Data

Following Russia’s military incursion into Georgia, do you think Russia could stake further territorial claims along its borders?

Source: Emnid / N24
Methodology: Interviews with 1,000 German adults, conducted on Aug. 29, 2008. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.

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