Translated material
Top 10 events in the media
August 2008
The rating of the most mentioned events in the media was compiled by the Medialogy company through analysis printed and electronic publications at the federal level. A total of 30,800 messages were analyzed. The data for the rating was calculated on August 29, 2008.Events Number of messages
(for all time)
| NATO and the European Union threaten sanctions against Russia | 481 |
| The UN Security Council failed to adopt a resolution on Georgia | 225 |
| Russian troops in Gori | 223 |
| An exchange of prisoners of war took place between the Russian and Georgian sides | 191 |
| In South Ossetia, authorities announce the evacuation of civilians from the shelling zone from the Georgian side | 180 |
| Dmitry Medvedev, following a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, signed six principles for the peaceful resolution of the conflict with Georgia | 132 |
| Agents of the Georgian special services, according to the FSB, were preparing terrorist attacks on Russian territory | 110 |
| The eighth SCO summit took place in Dushanbe | 101 |
| Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili announced Georgia's withdrawal from the CIS | 95 |
According to an analysis of the information field in August, the most discussed topic in the media, naturally, was the military conflict between Russia and Georgia around South Ossetia and its consequences for world politics. In first place in the ranking is the news about Russia’s recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. On August 26, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed decrees recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This news, due to its international legal significance, has acquired a large-scale global political resonance.
Relations with NATO and the EU, the possibility of the West introducing sanctions against Russia became the second most discussed topic in the media. A separate block of media commented on the development of relations between the Russian Federation and NATO. As is known, Russia has suspended its participation in the status of forces agreement concluded with NATO under the Partnership for Peace program, as well as all military cooperation. In their media reports, they indicated that the Russian Federation still does not intend to stop cooperation with the alliance in the field of conventional arms control and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
The press actively described the diplomatic efforts of the international community in resolving the crisis surrounding the territorial integrity of Georgia, which have so far turned out to be practically ineffective. In particular, numerous consultations in the UN Security Council on the issue of the Russian-Georgian conflict and the status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which did not lead to a final UN Security Council resolution on Georgia.
An important information topic in August was the immediate reaction of France, which chairs the EU, to the beginning of events in South Ossetia and the visit of President Nicolas Sarkozy to Russia. The result of difficult negotiations with the head of the Russian Federation, as is known, was the agreement on six principles for the peaceful resolution of the conflict, which was signed by Dmitry Medvedev, Nicolas Sarkozy, and then by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. True, the parties still have fundamental differences even in the interpretation of some points of the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan, not to mention its unconditional implementation.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit was the first major forum after Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The SCO countries, including permanent member of the UN Security Council China, expressed cautious support for Russia's actions. During the last SCO summit in Dushanbe, member states of the organization approved Russia’s position in the South Ossetian conflict and supported “Russia’s active role in promoting peace and cooperation in the region,” but did not support recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
The top ten most discussed topics also included the actions of Russian troops in Gori, the complex process of exchanging prisoners of war, the story of the capture of agents of the Georgian special services, as well as the statement of the head of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili about his country’s withdrawal from the CIS, later approved by the Georgian parliament.