Russo-Georgian War

Judges at the International Criminal Court Jan. 27 gave its prosecutor a green light to launch a new inquiry into allegations of war crimes during a brief but bloody 2008 war between Russia and Georgia.

A militarily strong ally of Serbia will deter any potential aggressor, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin had told Sputnik.

The Serbian president's statement that Turkey tried to drag NATO and Russia into a war was "unfortunate and untrue," said the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

"It's an unfortunate statement. This statement has nothing to do with the truth," said ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic.

The historic Georgian Osvank Church in the Turkish province of Erzurum needs urgent restoration but Turkey cannot begin the work as Georgian officials have not met reciprocity principlesThe Osvank Church, which was built nearly 1,000 years ago in the eastern province of Erzurum, is ready for restoration but still waiting for steps to be taken by Georgian officials before work can begin. 

Turkish foreign ministry has warned its citizens aiming at traveling to Russia over the visa regime Russia will start imposing on Turkish citizens as of Jan. 1, 2016, after relations between the two countries have been tense due to a jet crisis.

Turkey's decision to shoot down a Russian military plane on Tuesday will have "grave consequences for Russia’s relations with Turkey," says Vladimir Putin.

The U.S. military is determined to oppose Russia and China in order to protect the current “international order,” U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has said.

Carter accused Russia of "violating sovereignty of American allies," mentioning Ukraine and Georgia in this context.

The allegedly defensive military exercises of Russia and NATO in fact bring the two the two sides closer to war, says the European Leadership Network.

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili spoke harshly for the British Independent daily about Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The current governor of the region of Odessa in Ukraine stressed that the Russian leader "plans to continue invasions of countries in Russia's vicinity."

The foreign ministry of Georgia issued on Wednesday a note of protest to Russia over the illegal installation of banners marking the so-called "state border" of the breakaway region of South Ossetia.