28 August 2008

GPPi Fellow Sergey Lagodinsky comments on the Russian-Georgian conflict

GPPi fellow Sergey Lagodinsky commented on the Russian-Georgian conflict on several German radio programs. Speaking in the studio of Deutschlandfunk, the leading German public radio station, Lagodinsky characterized the Russian actions as a final step towards a roll-up of the era of perestroika. After the first step concerning domestic freedoms (electronic media and government control over courts) and second step restoring the Russian economic leverage in foreign relations (the gas incidents with Ukraine and other countries), the conflict with Georgia completes the new Russian “emancipation” in the domain of the military and foreign policy.

Lagodinsky emphasized that the international legal dimensions of the conflict should be viewed in a broader context. In his view a number of Russian actions including issuing passports to Georgian citizens in South Ossetia and Abkhazia as well as the disproportionate military (re)action can be viewed as violating international law. At the same time, he added that we need further independent analysis on the conflict and alleged human rights violations on both sides before rushing to a final judgment.

Lagodinsky was also invited to speak as a studio guest at the Russian service of Deutsche Welle (foreign radio service of the German radio) and gave an extensive interview for the Russian-langauge section of the Berlin public radio station RBB.

To listen to Lagodinsky’s interview on Deutschlandfunk, please click here.

To listen to Lagodinsky’s interview for the Russian section of the RBB (Multikulti), please click here.  

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