Independent International Fact-Finding Missionon the Conflict in Georgia

Volume I Volume II Volume IIISeptember 2009

Introduction 5The Conflict in Georgia in August 2008 10Observations 33Acknowledgements 39List of the Mission’s Main Visits and Meetings 43

2By its decision of 2 December 2008 the Council of the European Union established anIndependent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia (IIFFMCG).This is the first time in its history that the European Union has decided to interveneactively in a serious armed conflict. It is also the first time that after having reached aceasefire agreement the European Union set up a Fact-Finding Mission as a political anddiplomatic follow-up to the conflict. In its work, the Mission has been assisted and advised by a Senior Advisory Board (see Acknowledgements). The present Report is the result of the mandated inquiry.The Mission thanks the European Union for the steadfast support extended to the Missionthroughout the whole period of its work.It should be stressed that the Fact-Finding Mission is strictly limited to establishing factsand is not a tribunal. The Mission believes that there can be no peace in the SouthCaucasus as long as a common understanding of the facts is not achieved.