Military conflict between Georgia and Russia around South Ossetia caused enormous amount of publications in the Internet as well as interviews from hot spots in newspapers and TV, but unfortunately, it is hard to find the truth in this flow of information: they contain so many confrontations, sometimes even obvious disinformation. This article is not an attempt to estimate the events, but to give a subjective opinion to them, based on the author’s personal visit to Georgia in July, 2008.

26 of July I came back from an international Russian-Georgian poetry festival in Georgia. It is hard to express with words the feelings overwhelming me:  beautiful nature, hospitality, generous and open-hearted people, tiny orthodox churches with ancient icons- I could only express my excitement in my poems, my overwhelming emotions turned into a poetic complex “Psalms for Georgia”.

In Copenhagen, where I live permanently, I was constantly telling my friends about this blessed place on earth. I couldn’t believe my eyes, when on the 9^th of August I read in Danish newspapers that Georgian army bombed the capital of south Ossetia, Tshinvali. It stated that Russian battalions came to defend the area, mostly populated with Russian citizens, and that the conflict is about to grow into a real war between Russia and Georgia! It felt as a nightmare, a bad dream I really wanted to wake up from.

I could still recall the words of one of the festival participants stating that it would be wonderful for policy to be lead by poets: the relationship between Georgia and Russia then would be built on base of full mutual understanding and friendliness. Poets could have a chance to demonstrate the politicians that there is no need to divide the territory, and teach them a more respectful way of using words and treating each other; political cold would be replaced by poetic warmness.

Meanwhile, Russian troops started to bomb military objects on the territory of Georgia. Tsinhvaly was destroyed by Georgian army almost completely. There came news about thousands of victims among peaceful citizens. I couldn’t believe or realize it and felt deepest sorrow.

I remembered words of ordinary people I came across on the streets of Tbilisi: a man, who rushed to help us when saw that we were left behind our tourist bus, an old lady, walking with her granddaughter in a park, an artist who invited us to his place to see his paintings, taxi drivers- all of them were complaining about local politicians, whose efforts were mostly directed to the USA. By the way, Georgians are not interested in relationship with the states, and Russia is so close and has always been around, helping Georgia. I wander, when all these mutual accusations will stop, as everybody is tired of them, and when the time of friendship and love will come, as Georgians has always felt this way towards Russians?

Nine days in Georgia were enough for me to love sincerely the people, who were outrageous in their 15 century long struggle for their orthodox beliefs and political independence.

I cannot deny my feeling of pride for Russia, as it was helping to fight slavery of Slavonic people in the run of all the 19^th century, giving its sons’ lives for the freedom of Georgia, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Adzharia, suffering from invaders’ jock or threatened by them.

Right now I can’t deny my feeling of shame and sorrow for the almighty orthodox country aiming their weapons at a small amount of other believers!

Is there forgiveness for killing innocent children, women, old and young people whose followers will never be able to be born into this world? Is there any reason to destroy towns, villages and homes? Is there forgiveness for people, who disseminate ideas of hatred between nations?

… I remember Russian interpreters, working with Georgian poets at the festival and poems they were translating into their language in order to bring the words of miracle for those, who don’t understand the language of the original. They were working together, moved by one purpose, never paying attention to outer talks and haste.

One idea came across my mind at that moment: there wouldn’t be innocent victims, crying wives, sisters and daughters, if those who rule our world could choose and interpret the words of their partners and geographical neighbors carefully and with respect, not listening to the rude and useless talks of aggressive villains.

translatet from russian by Julia Bausheva