For Putin, a salve for old wounds

Vladimir Putin, who came to office brooding over the wounds of a humiliated Russia, this week offered proof...

Vladimir Putin, who came to office brooding over the wounds of a humiliated Russia, this week offered proof of its resurgence. So far, the West hasn8217;t been able to check his thrust into Georgia. He is making decisions that could redraw the map of the Caucasus in Russia8217;s favour or destroy strategic relationships with Western powers.

If there were any doubts, the last week has confirmed that Putin, who became prime minister this spring after eight years as president, is running Russia, not his successor, President Dmitri Medvedev.

Now, with Russian troops poised on two fronts in Georgia, speculation abounds on what Putin wants to do.

Russia could settle for annexing the enclaves of Abkhazia and South Ossetia 8212; something its forces have largely accomplished. Kremlin authorities have also spoken of bringing Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia8217;s president, to a war crimes tribunal for what they say were attacks on civilians in Tskhinvali last week.

A further push might permanently disable the Georgian military. The most extreme option would be occupying Georgia, where Western nations have long planned to run an oil pipeline.

But while the West may see an aggressive Russia, Putin feels embattled and encircled, said Sergei Markov, the director of Moscow8217;s Institute for Political Studies. 8220;Russia is trapped between protecting its citizens and the risk of escalating into a new cold war8221; with the United States, Dr Markov said.

Putin and his surrogates have forcefully made the case that Russia does not plan to occupy Georgia but is acting only to defend its citizens.

Story continues below this ad

In recent days, Putin has appeared on television with his sleeves rolled up, mingling with refugees on the border with South Ossetia 8212; the very picture of a man of action.

By contrast, Medvedev is shown sitting at his desk in Moscow, giving ceremonial orders to the minister of defense.

8220;He is playing the game which is designed by Putin,8221; Rahr, who serves on the German Council on Foreign Relations, said of Medvedev.

But with Russia reshaped as a petro-state, Putin has sent blunt messages to its neighbours: The flow of cheap energy can be turned off or on. Two years ago, after what was called the Orange Revolution swept West-friendly leaders to power in Ukraine, Russia briefly cut off the country8217;s flow of natural gas, sending waves of anxiety across Europe.

Story continues below this ad

Finally, with Russia8217;s swift progress in Georgia, Putin has, once in for all, asserted Russia8217;s might as a military force.