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Georgia: the conflict with Russia and the crisis in South Ossetia

This note examines the background to the current crisis in South Ossetia and the unfolding conflict between Georgia and Russia. It analyses what the conflict might mean for Georgia, its claim to South Ossetia and Abkhazia and its aspirations for joining NATO. It assesses the Russian response to the crisis and considers what it reveals about the broader objectives of Russian foreign policy. It also assesses the implications of the conflict for the West and its relations with Russia.