Expert view: Georgia's decision to shell Tskhinvali could prove 'reckless'

President timed action to coincide with Olympics, says academic An expert on international security today warned that all-out war between Russian and Georgia would amount to "the worst crisis in Europe since the end of communism". Dr Jonathan Eyal, director of studies at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), described Georgia's decision to shell the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, as a brazen effort to humiliate the Russians. He claimed the sudden escalation in tensions in the region heralded a dangerous return of "East-West confrontation". And he said the timing of Georgia's decision to tackle its separatists – with many world leaders away in Beijing for the Olympics – was "a calculated gamble". "The president of Georgia has timed this action very well to coincide with the Olympic games," said Eyal. "It's at a time... [read full story]