1 00:00:08,270 --> 00:00:12,000 [Music] 2 00:00:13,350 --> 00:00:17,710 there are almost 200 official countries 3 00:00:16,090 --> 00:00:20,020 in the world today but there are dozens 4 00:00:17,710 --> 00:00:21,970 more breakaway states determined to be 5 00:00:20,020 --> 00:00:24,220 separate but officially not recognized 6 00:00:21,970 --> 00:00:26,710 some survive peacefully with their own 7 00:00:24,220 --> 00:00:28,448 borders money and presidents but others 8 00:00:26,710 --> 00:00:30,369 are a magnet for terrorists and weapon 9 00:00:28,449 --> 00:00:31,890 smuggling and have armies ready for a 10 00:00:30,369 --> 00:00:34,990 fight 11 00:00:31,890 --> 00:00:52,989 welcome to places that don't exist 12 00:00:34,990 --> 00:00:52,989 [Music] 13 00:01:03,100 --> 00:01:08,720 Georgia has a particular problem with 14 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:12,350 breakaway states after the collapse of 15 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:14,530 the USSR Georgia became independent but 16 00:01:12,350 --> 00:01:17,449 three parts of the country South Ossetia 17 00:01:14,530 --> 00:01:19,940 Abkhazia and Acharya then broke away 18 00:01:17,450 --> 00:01:21,920 from Georgia conflict broke out 19 00:01:19,940 --> 00:01:25,369 thousands were killed and the whole 20 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:27,799 region has suffered ever since I drove 21 00:01:25,369 --> 00:01:29,330 with my guide Natalia through Georgia to 22 00:01:27,799 --> 00:01:31,970 South Ossetia on Russia's southern 23 00:01:29,330 --> 00:01:34,310 border on the way we saw posters of the 24 00:01:31,970 --> 00:01:37,490 new Georgian President Saakashvili who 25 00:01:34,310 --> 00:01:40,009 took power in winter 2003 the new 26 00:01:37,490 --> 00:01:41,720 president who supported by the West has 27 00:01:40,009 --> 00:01:43,909 vowed to bring all the breakaway regions 28 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:44,979 which the Russian support back into the 29 00:01:43,909 --> 00:01:47,869 fold 30 00:01:44,979 --> 00:01:51,190 although officially one country this is 31 00:01:47,869 --> 00:01:53,690 where George and jurisdiction ends 32 00:01:51,190 --> 00:01:55,819 tensions were high at the border just a 33 00:01:53,690 --> 00:01:58,090 day before 50 Georgian soldiers had been 34 00:01:55,819 --> 00:02:00,200 taken captive by South Ossetia enforces 35 00:01:58,090 --> 00:02:02,630 well these guys are now saying that we 36 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:04,310 actually can't go back because the South 37 00:02:02,630 --> 00:02:06,440 has settings might try to kidnap us we 38 00:02:04,310 --> 00:02:08,539 can't go forward because the Russians 39 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:10,609 are ahead of us and they won't let us go 40 00:02:08,538 --> 00:02:14,510 part either so it we could be stuck here 41 00:02:10,610 --> 00:02:16,459 this Georgian checkpoint Georgia's will 42 00:02:14,510 --> 00:02:18,649 take us to them up to the point where 43 00:02:16,459 --> 00:02:21,110 the the peacekeepers checkpoints but 44 00:02:18,650 --> 00:02:22,610 five kilometers from here so then we 45 00:02:21,110 --> 00:02:24,530 will have to talk to the Russians in the 46 00:02:22,610 --> 00:02:26,629 city and see whether they let us in 47 00:02:24,530 --> 00:02:29,470 because that's why they Georgian 48 00:02:26,629 --> 00:02:29,470 jurisdiction and 49 00:02:31,170 --> 00:02:37,920 so in no-man's land 50 00:02:33,190 --> 00:02:37,920 yes that's right 51 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:50,620 the buffer zone between the two is 52 00:02:49,060 --> 00:02:53,320 controlled by Russian peacekeeping 53 00:02:50,620 --> 00:02:56,590 forces despite Russia's open support for 54 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:58,209 South Ossetia independence Georgians say 55 00:02:56,590 --> 00:02:59,459 the Russians just want to keep soldiers 56 00:02:58,210 --> 00:03:01,450 in Georgia 57 00:02:59,459 --> 00:03:03,459 Natalia spoke to a group of Russian 58 00:03:01,450 --> 00:03:07,030 soldiers who are happy to explain where 59 00:03:03,459 --> 00:03:08,920 their load is lie the guys that they're 60 00:03:07,030 --> 00:03:10,780 saying that they identify themselves 61 00:03:08,920 --> 00:03:12,730 with South Ossetia and they're ready 62 00:03:10,780 --> 00:03:14,890 they might be here as well on a 63 00:03:12,730 --> 00:03:16,720 peacekeeping mandate but as soon as 64 00:03:14,890 --> 00:03:19,059 there's some sort of an aggression or 65 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:20,830 some sort of a implication that there 66 00:03:19,060 --> 00:03:22,390 will be war they're going to tear off 67 00:03:20,830 --> 00:03:24,790 and that's how they said it they're 68 00:03:22,390 --> 00:03:26,440 gonna tear of their peacekeeping badges 69 00:03:24,790 --> 00:03:28,929 and they're gonna they're gonna fight 70 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:30,790 for so but they are telling me that I 71 00:03:28,930 --> 00:03:32,350 listen you are America's puppet you know 72 00:03:30,790 --> 00:03:34,120 that there are Americans training 73 00:03:32,350 --> 00:03:36,220 Georgia's now they're British Army 74 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:42,700 training Georgia's you are you are the 75 00:03:36,220 --> 00:03:44,500 puppet so the sausage on a commissioned 76 00:03:42,700 --> 00:03:47,530 officer know what is his aim here what 77 00:03:44,500 --> 00:03:49,959 is the procedure paya Holly Photoshop 78 00:03:47,530 --> 00:03:50,500 kakapo rocket failure Isis give me a 79 00:03:49,959 --> 00:03:54,400 tour sir 80 00:03:50,500 --> 00:03:57,160 Jason animal subjects Bonilla right here 81 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:59,170 at work is as I said general towards the 82 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:00,400 Turkish study it's only Russian 83 00:03:59,170 --> 00:04:02,790 peacekeepers here who are keeping 84 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:05,129 stability 85 00:04:02,790 --> 00:04:06,840 the Russian general eventually gave 86 00:04:05,129 --> 00:04:07,500 permission for us to cross into South 87 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,569 Ossetia 88 00:04:07,500 --> 00:04:11,430 and we followed his army jeep to a South 89 00:04:09,569 --> 00:04:14,250 Ossetia in government ministry to 90 00:04:11,430 --> 00:04:16,680 register our arrival this is actually 91 00:04:14,250 --> 00:04:18,060 the South Ossetia Foreign Ministry which 92 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:20,190 always sounds like a contradiction in 93 00:04:18,060 --> 00:04:21,959 terms but it's a proper breakaway state 94 00:04:20,190 --> 00:04:22,830 they formed their own government of 95 00:04:21,959 --> 00:04:27,360 course they've got their own foreign 96 00:04:22,830 --> 00:04:29,580 ministry for 12 years South Ossetia has 97 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:32,100 existed as a self-declared country with 98 00:04:29,580 --> 00:04:35,190 its own flag army and government but not 99 00:04:32,100 --> 00:04:36,810 recognized by any major state the people 100 00:04:35,190 --> 00:04:38,850 here are mainly assets we speak a 101 00:04:36,810 --> 00:04:40,320 different language to Georgians the 102 00:04:38,850 --> 00:04:42,150 government has vowed to fight to the 103 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:45,210 death rather than rejoin the Georgian 104 00:04:42,150 --> 00:04:48,570 fold they clearly don't think much of 105 00:04:45,210 --> 00:04:51,180 President Saakashvili we've got area 106 00:04:48,570 --> 00:04:53,940 south acetylene magazine here a news 107 00:04:51,180 --> 00:04:55,590 magazine it's got a picture of the 108 00:04:53,940 --> 00:04:57,180 Georgian President Mikheil so he's 109 00:04:55,590 --> 00:04:59,849 building on the front time to think of a 110 00:04:57,180 --> 00:05:02,729 more unflattering portraits for the hand 111 00:04:59,850 --> 00:05:04,800 of America using him as a puppet seen 112 00:05:02,729 --> 00:05:08,190 green with a swastika armband on leading 113 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:15,060 death and pestilence into a South 114 00:05:08,190 --> 00:05:17,370 Ossetia it's really worked his more news 115 00:05:15,060 --> 00:05:20,669 from South Ossetia is the Georgian 116 00:05:17,370 --> 00:05:22,169 troops they were taken captive or 117 00:05:20,669 --> 00:05:24,870 hostage here depending on your point of 118 00:05:22,169 --> 00:05:27,780 view a bunch of operators ahead deliver 119 00:05:24,870 --> 00:05:31,860 to avoid that music idea we were just 120 00:05:27,780 --> 00:05:33,659 doing this show that show the tape we 121 00:05:31,860 --> 00:05:38,669 just filmed this you just walked in when 122 00:05:33,660 --> 00:05:41,030 we were doing this see boom now you're 123 00:05:38,669 --> 00:05:41,030 happy 124 00:05:42,899 --> 00:05:51,399 I'm sure we shall my typical well I 125 00:05:49,809 --> 00:05:54,580 think we've managed to basically 126 00:05:51,399 --> 00:05:56,110 persuade the rather tough south ossetia 127 00:05:54,580 --> 00:05:57,519 women in there that we should be allowed 128 00:05:56,110 --> 00:06:00,039 to stay I think she was at one point 129 00:05:57,519 --> 00:06:01,239 going to kick us out she's now gonna let 130 00:06:00,039 --> 00:06:02,589 her stay and hopefully we'll be allowed 131 00:06:01,239 --> 00:06:04,179 to stay a little bit longer than the two 132 00:06:02,589 --> 00:06:07,929 hours they initially said we could be in 133 00:06:04,179 --> 00:06:12,159 south ossetia we're not allowed to film 134 00:06:07,929 --> 00:06:14,018 on the capital of south ossetia was 135 00:06:12,159 --> 00:06:15,998 attacked by Georgian forces in the early 136 00:06:14,019 --> 00:06:20,469 90s when the assets' announced they 137 00:06:15,999 --> 00:06:23,229 wanted their independence it's a 138 00:06:20,469 --> 00:06:27,519 beautiful old building and this is the 139 00:06:23,229 --> 00:06:29,289 South Ossetia flag on the roof they're 140 00:06:27,519 --> 00:06:32,369 saying that where there's new plaster 141 00:06:29,289 --> 00:06:36,659 this is where bullets hit the building 142 00:06:32,369 --> 00:06:36,659 during the war just over ten years ago 143 00:06:36,869 --> 00:06:47,439 well they don't wait to film there yeah 144 00:06:42,749 --> 00:06:50,469 why I think basically because over there 145 00:06:47,439 --> 00:06:52,990 is the government ministry and maybe 146 00:06:50,469 --> 00:06:56,979 where the president works and the same 147 00:06:52,990 --> 00:06:58,899 they don't we need to film a president 148 00:06:56,979 --> 00:07:00,550 of South Ossetia read your mind huh 149 00:06:58,899 --> 00:07:04,839 where is it which one is it just over 150 00:07:00,550 --> 00:07:06,969 there can we go and speak to him it's 151 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:07,300 the president of South Ossetia just over 152 00:07:06,969 --> 00:07:10,239 there 153 00:07:07,300 --> 00:07:11,649 he's just gone now and really wanted to 154 00:07:10,239 --> 00:07:12,909 speak to him but there they're saying we 155 00:07:11,649 --> 00:07:14,619 can't they won't let us go and chat with 156 00:07:12,909 --> 00:07:16,719 them they're saying before we take your 157 00:07:14,619 --> 00:07:18,699 tapes away just keep going started out 158 00:07:16,719 --> 00:07:20,440 and start leave before we take their 159 00:07:18,699 --> 00:07:24,310 tips okay 160 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:27,070 I was speaking with one of their girls 161 00:07:24,310 --> 00:07:28,780 with a company I suppose she's from the 162 00:07:27,070 --> 00:07:31,000 Ministry of Information and she was 163 00:07:28,780 --> 00:07:32,710 talking about how they really distrust 164 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:35,530 everything that comes from the outside 165 00:07:32,710 --> 00:07:37,780 whether it's Georgia or the bigger 166 00:07:35,530 --> 00:07:40,090 outside but we're also we had an 167 00:07:37,780 --> 00:07:42,489 interesting chat mode dad met President 168 00:07:40,090 --> 00:07:44,770 Saakashvili and she was saying how much 169 00:07:42,490 --> 00:07:47,500 people despise him but really his 170 00:07:44,770 --> 00:07:50,349 reputation here is that his tears they 171 00:07:47,500 --> 00:07:52,060 mentally disturbed the Isetta in 172 00:07:50,350 --> 00:07:55,150 government gave us a local guide who 173 00:07:52,060 --> 00:07:59,470 took us on a tour first stop the local 174 00:07:55,150 --> 00:08:01,090 market people were reluctant to talk to 175 00:07:59,470 --> 00:08:03,850 us at first because our guide was 176 00:08:01,090 --> 00:08:08,380 telling them we were Americans no no no 177 00:08:03,850 --> 00:08:12,550 no America not not America no not did 178 00:08:08,380 --> 00:08:17,909 you say America when we're not from 179 00:08:12,550 --> 00:08:20,380 America from London but it's not America 180 00:08:17,910 --> 00:08:24,850 once our nationality was cleared up 181 00:08:20,380 --> 00:08:26,860 people became friendlier hello 182 00:08:24,850 --> 00:08:28,470 so they've got lots of produce as you 183 00:08:26,860 --> 00:08:32,320 can see Oh 184 00:08:28,470 --> 00:08:35,430 spasiba we thought there was no food in 185 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:35,430 South Ossetia ah 186 00:08:35,909 --> 00:08:43,299 spasiba it's for Syria because this is 187 00:08:40,150 --> 00:08:45,459 what people say in Georgia almost 188 00:08:43,299 --> 00:08:47,829 everyone in South Ossetia has someone 189 00:08:45,460 --> 00:08:50,650 close to them in the Isetta an army yeah 190 00:08:47,830 --> 00:08:53,500 so much Kenan mañana you caught this f2 191 00:08:50,650 --> 00:08:54,930 remember he said he has a son I love you 192 00:08:53,500 --> 00:09:03,500 defense 193 00:08:54,930 --> 00:09:03,500 us from doujin hammers as his son maybe 194 00:09:07,310 --> 00:09:12,000 many here have already lost a relative 195 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:13,980 our guide took us to the grounds of a 196 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:15,180 school where a makeshift cemetery was 197 00:09:13,980 --> 00:09:19,980 established during the Georgian 198 00:09:15,180 --> 00:09:23,699 bombardment and they were both killed 199 00:09:19,980 --> 00:09:25,560 during the war it's horrifying really 200 00:09:23,700 --> 00:09:30,180 it's supposed to be a kids playground 201 00:09:25,560 --> 00:09:32,459 it's not supposed to be a cemetery so 202 00:09:30,180 --> 00:09:35,099 Georgia did a lot of heavy bombardment 203 00:09:32,460 --> 00:09:37,850 during the war here yeah there was heavy 204 00:09:35,100 --> 00:09:40,020 bombardment there was a lot of looting 205 00:09:37,850 --> 00:09:43,410 Georgian army and prime militaries 206 00:09:40,020 --> 00:09:47,490 behaved in terrible ways a lot of people 207 00:09:43,410 --> 00:09:48,500 were killed on both sides what does that 208 00:09:47,490 --> 00:09:50,700 say 209 00:09:48,500 --> 00:09:54,960 after I've lived through all of these 210 00:09:50,700 --> 00:09:58,730 tragedies I know that you view my proud 211 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:58,730 Ossetia will win 212 00:10:02,149 --> 00:10:05,660 technically our time is up and we have 213 00:10:04,370 --> 00:10:08,019 to leave right now because we were 214 00:10:05,660 --> 00:10:11,149 already stopped once by k to be here and 215 00:10:08,019 --> 00:10:12,559 they checked our documents so if we're 216 00:10:11,149 --> 00:10:14,389 stopped again we're going to get kicked 217 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:16,910 out because our accreditation time is 218 00:10:14,389 --> 00:10:21,800 ran out but we might try to persuade 219 00:10:16,910 --> 00:10:23,809 them to give us some more time here to 220 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:25,430 buy some extra time we persuaded our 221 00:10:23,809 --> 00:10:30,279 government guide to take us to a local 222 00:10:25,430 --> 00:10:32,329 restaurant but she wasn't happy I 223 00:10:30,279 --> 00:10:34,819 suppose she's got a right to be fed up 224 00:10:32,329 --> 00:10:37,729 her brother cousin and father all in the 225 00:10:34,819 --> 00:10:42,170 army along with all our neighbors is 226 00:10:37,730 --> 00:10:47,899 very fence claim are you are you worried 227 00:10:42,170 --> 00:10:52,160 for them are they they are on the border 228 00:10:47,899 --> 00:10:53,329 with Georgia yes is it stressful time 229 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:57,550 for your family 230 00:10:53,329 --> 00:10:57,550 there is much stress within your family 231 00:11:01,740 --> 00:11:05,980 in the back we found a group of young a 232 00:11:04,269 --> 00:11:07,540 city and soldiers who had taken a break 233 00:11:05,980 --> 00:11:10,120 from the front line to celebrate a 234 00:11:07,540 --> 00:11:13,980 birthday they were too young to fight in 235 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:16,660 the last war but all were affected by 236 00:11:13,980 --> 00:11:19,029 shots apologies my fathers died in that 237 00:11:16,660 --> 00:11:21,610 war now we're ready to dine a new war to 238 00:11:19,029 --> 00:11:23,110 protect our freedoms blood you mean you 239 00:11:21,610 --> 00:11:27,250 have expected this that it might happen 240 00:11:23,110 --> 00:11:28,689 again gosh of course we knew this would 241 00:11:27,250 --> 00:11:31,269 happen because we will never allow the 242 00:11:28,689 --> 00:11:32,829 Georgians to rule us throughout the set 243 00:11:31,269 --> 00:11:33,519 in history they've always tried to push 244 00:11:32,829 --> 00:11:35,649 us around 245 00:11:33,519 --> 00:11:38,250 we've never submitted to that and never 246 00:11:35,649 --> 00:11:40,660 wish to merely button himself 247 00:11:38,250 --> 00:11:42,879 there were reminders of the influence of 248 00:11:40,660 --> 00:11:45,790 Moscow everywhere Russian President 249 00:11:42,879 --> 00:11:50,519 Putin is a hero here we were running out 250 00:11:45,790 --> 00:11:50,519 of time and the KGB wanted us to leave 251 00:11:51,379 --> 00:12:00,589 I didn't give me any time 252 00:11:58,149 --> 00:12:03,289 our guys are getting a little worried 253 00:12:00,589 --> 00:12:04,579 about the KGB guys behind us so they 254 00:12:03,289 --> 00:12:07,189 want us to leave right 255 00:12:04,579 --> 00:12:10,598 spasiba thank you I hope to see you 256 00:12:07,189 --> 00:12:10,598 again I hope to see you both again 257 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:17,000 we just couldn't stay any longer 258 00:12:15,230 --> 00:12:19,670 basically we had a certain amount of 259 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:22,339 time we were allowed to be here and the 260 00:12:19,670 --> 00:12:29,089 KGB is they still call them here 261 00:12:22,339 --> 00:12:30,890 we're insistent that we leave the only 262 00:12:29,089 --> 00:12:33,500 opportunity for us to see the south or 263 00:12:30,890 --> 00:12:35,089 city and president eduard kokoity was on 264 00:12:33,500 --> 00:12:38,660 a videotape of him training with his 265 00:12:35,089 --> 00:12:40,640 army gulia de baak de facto republic is 266 00:12:38,660 --> 00:12:42,829 president he said watch kokoity italia 267 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:44,149 respond he's dressing combat fatigues he 268 00:12:42,830 --> 00:12:46,490 thinks for himself as a military leader 269 00:12:44,149 --> 00:12:48,320 as well as a political one yeah he does 270 00:12:46,490 --> 00:12:51,230 and he's preparing for war and that's 271 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:56,140 what he says here as well I think it's 272 00:12:51,230 --> 00:12:56,140 great one everyone that this is no joke 273 00:12:57,420 --> 00:13:02,959 [Applause] 274 00:13:00,279 --> 00:13:04,209 back in the Georgian capital we were 275 00:13:02,959 --> 00:13:06,560 summoned to meet President Saakashvili 276 00:13:04,209 --> 00:13:11,719 the man who's trying to reunify the 277 00:13:06,560 --> 00:13:13,459 country it's a president I already Simon 278 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:16,220 from the VPT hello nice to see you nice 279 00:13:13,459 --> 00:13:18,410 to see you too these will and I believe 280 00:13:16,220 --> 00:13:21,860 you know Netanya where are you going now 281 00:13:18,410 --> 00:13:24,319 sir I'm going to meet there is no Sofia 282 00:13:21,860 --> 00:13:26,870 of my population of based people for our 283 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:30,100 opposition ethnic origin that came here 284 00:13:26,870 --> 00:13:32,540 for demonstration right and basically 285 00:13:30,100 --> 00:13:34,160 well they didn't expect to meet me but 286 00:13:32,540 --> 00:13:36,709 you're gonna go say hello 287 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:39,319 yes and what are they out here 288 00:13:36,709 --> 00:13:41,150 demonstrating for for peace for peace 289 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:42,650 that's what we want as well right 290 00:13:41,150 --> 00:13:45,740 looks like Russia's want to see a 291 00:13:42,650 --> 00:13:50,000 trouble on the border there but we are 292 00:13:45,740 --> 00:13:53,390 trying to keep things calm we don't need 293 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:57,079 it any other bloody clash there and how 294 00:13:53,390 --> 00:13:59,120 how difficult is the situation of easily 295 00:13:57,079 --> 00:14:00,800 South Ossetia tomorrow well it's a very 296 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:03,079 small piece of territory but looks like 297 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:03,890 that for Russians is kind of marginal 298 00:14:03,079 --> 00:14:05,689 line of defence 299 00:14:03,890 --> 00:14:07,579 God knows where what interests oh right 300 00:14:05,690 --> 00:14:09,290 only one hand where we are trying to 301 00:14:07,579 --> 00:14:12,380 think several things around there is the 302 00:14:09,290 --> 00:14:13,819 kind of leverage over us right yeah are 303 00:14:12,380 --> 00:14:16,610 you worried about the possibility 304 00:14:13,820 --> 00:14:18,440 is it a serious possible varus chance 305 00:14:16,610 --> 00:14:32,900 that there will be flash but we hope it 306 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:34,760 won't happen people are actually of a 307 00:14:32,900 --> 00:14:37,610 sense yes were concerned about you or 308 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:39,530 how many medicinal provinces good 309 00:14:37,610 --> 00:14:50,780 because I enjoy every night I pray for 310 00:14:39,530 --> 00:14:52,939 peace Georgia is changing rapidly we 311 00:14:50,780 --> 00:14:54,470 went to an old Soviet base where British 312 00:14:52,940 --> 00:14:56,060 troops are now training the Georgian 313 00:14:54,470 --> 00:15:07,970 army and the tactics of international 314 00:14:56,060 --> 00:15:13,300 peacekeeping local medical students 315 00:15:07,970 --> 00:15:13,300 added a touch of realism Oh Big Joe 316 00:15:17,070 --> 00:15:21,570 the Georgian troops here and obviously 317 00:15:19,230 --> 00:15:23,280 not training for an invasion of a small 318 00:15:21,570 --> 00:15:25,200 breakaway state this is for peacekeeping 319 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:27,000 operations this is really why the 320 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:29,130 Russians are so angry because we're here 321 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:31,080 with American trained Georgian troops 322 00:15:29,130 --> 00:15:33,630 we're now training alongside British 323 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:37,160 troops on an old Soviet Air Base just on 324 00:15:33,630 --> 00:15:37,160 Russia's southern borders 325 00:15:46,730 --> 00:15:52,050 all they've ever been trained in is 326 00:15:49,399 --> 00:15:53,730 Soviet doctrine and war fighting so this 327 00:15:52,050 --> 00:15:56,910 is completely new to some of these guys 328 00:15:53,730 --> 00:15:59,430 likewise running structuring planning 329 00:15:56,910 --> 00:16:01,350 scoping and exercise along Western lines 330 00:15:59,430 --> 00:16:03,269 a long way the British Army is also new 331 00:16:01,350 --> 00:16:06,230 so the whole thing is a huge learning 332 00:16:03,269 --> 00:16:06,230 experience for them 333 00:16:06,829 --> 00:16:12,089 stay here you can't the world windows 334 00:16:09,660 --> 00:16:17,309 you know that window you look at that 335 00:16:12,089 --> 00:16:19,110 when you stay here okay again great 336 00:16:17,309 --> 00:16:20,160 there get out of there 337 00:16:19,110 --> 00:16:21,420 play away you should have stopped a 338 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:22,529 little bit early runs of them want to 339 00:16:21,420 --> 00:16:24,709 take the building and they've done a 340 00:16:22,529 --> 00:16:24,709 good job 341 00:16:28,459 --> 00:16:34,800 much of their military hardware has been 342 00:16:30,930 --> 00:16:36,569 provided by America what did you think 343 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:38,519 of how the Georgian soldiers handled 344 00:16:36,569 --> 00:16:40,559 things today we impressed or hide what 345 00:16:38,519 --> 00:16:44,459 they did it was quite impressed by their 346 00:16:40,559 --> 00:16:46,949 discipline very aggressive it's like 347 00:16:44,459 --> 00:16:50,160 good or bad ah too aggressive for 348 00:16:46,949 --> 00:16:51,628 peacekeeping but in a lot of other 349 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:55,649 aspects where they need to be aggressive 350 00:16:51,629 --> 00:16:57,360 great but when we left the peacekeepers 351 00:16:55,649 --> 00:16:59,670 just down the road we found Georgian 352 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:01,850 troops preparing for war much closer to 353 00:16:59,670 --> 00:17:01,849 home 354 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:10,938 I'm not going to see it if we do it 355 00:17:08,179 --> 00:17:23,000 quickly its tanked on the other side 356 00:17:10,939 --> 00:17:27,110 mate we were just trying to get close to 357 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:29,120 a Georgian train that is just behind me 358 00:17:27,109 --> 00:17:33,500 loaded with tanks armoured personnel 359 00:17:29,120 --> 00:17:39,678 carriers and artillery and they're 360 00:17:33,500 --> 00:17:40,970 shouting at us now they're all yeah 361 00:17:39,679 --> 00:17:51,800 there is the train there it's full of 362 00:17:40,970 --> 00:17:53,600 troops just give them a shot on the 363 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:55,250 surface Georgia 364 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:56,629 Georgian politicians might be saying oh 365 00:17:55,250 --> 00:17:58,100 well we're trying you know we don't want 366 00:17:56,630 --> 00:17:59,540 there to be a conflict but underneath 367 00:17:58,100 --> 00:18:02,919 the reality is they're clearly 368 00:17:59,540 --> 00:18:06,990 absolutely prepared for it 369 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:08,980 [Music] 370 00:18:06,990 --> 00:18:11,020 giorgia seems to have a real problem 371 00:18:08,980 --> 00:18:13,270 with breakaway stage which is Rhett to 372 00:18:11,020 --> 00:18:15,430 get you overnight train West across the 373 00:18:13,270 --> 00:18:17,410 country to add Aria which is a breakaway 374 00:18:15,430 --> 00:18:18,910 region of Georgia that President 375 00:18:17,410 --> 00:18:21,280 Saakashvili has just brought back into 376 00:18:18,910 --> 00:18:27,580 the fold that's the reason why South 377 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:29,550 Ossetia and our party are so worried we 378 00:18:27,580 --> 00:18:33,270 were very lucky to get on this train 379 00:18:29,550 --> 00:18:35,590 we've managed to secure the final 380 00:18:33,270 --> 00:18:38,320 sleeping compartment but it's the end of 381 00:18:35,590 --> 00:18:42,070 the train and the toilet so we're not 382 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:44,110 sure it's gonna be like well it's a bit 383 00:18:42,070 --> 00:18:46,389 of a stink okay we can try to get the 384 00:18:44,110 --> 00:18:51,040 window down but it seems we push it down 385 00:18:46,390 --> 00:18:52,120 it goes up again Oh a little bit I never 386 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:57,240 gather we gotta go okay 387 00:18:52,120 --> 00:18:57,239 okay all right we'll survive 388 00:18:58,830 --> 00:19:04,330 in Soviet times the Black Sea resort of 389 00:19:02,380 --> 00:19:06,100 a Daria was a favorite destination for 390 00:19:04,330 --> 00:19:08,320 Soviet holidaymakers and the old 391 00:19:06,100 --> 00:19:10,360 communist party hierarchy but more 392 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:13,200 importantly it's the country's major oil 393 00:19:10,360 --> 00:19:13,199 transit port 394 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:22,640 Suganya de su Daniel su Daniel a Jharia 395 00:19:20,750 --> 00:19:24,230 spent a decade as a breakaway region 396 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:26,510 under the rule of aztlán ever she'd say 397 00:19:24,230 --> 00:19:28,810 a corrupt local politician before 398 00:19:26,510 --> 00:19:30,890 president sack has really took it back I 399 00:19:28,810 --> 00:19:31,550 think we need to have a word with our 400 00:19:30,890 --> 00:19:36,080 driver 401 00:19:31,550 --> 00:19:40,399 he's a undercover cop or he's got some 402 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:44,780 useful props they're helping to get 403 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:47,960 through traffic jams it's fantastic can 404 00:19:44,780 --> 00:19:49,120 i buy one of these this would be so good 405 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:51,350 in London 406 00:19:49,120 --> 00:19:54,779 [Music] 407 00:19:51,350 --> 00:19:57,600 so he is a police officer yes turns out 408 00:19:54,779 --> 00:20:00,950 that he is he's off duty national 409 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:00,949 Sheldon at the higher 410 00:20:08,580 --> 00:20:13,090 Natalia took me to ever she days home 411 00:20:10,989 --> 00:20:15,340 which he left in a hurry when the people 412 00:20:13,090 --> 00:20:19,509 turned against him she'd been here 413 00:20:15,340 --> 00:20:23,439 before I was actually in this room eight 414 00:20:19,509 --> 00:20:25,419 hours after he fled to Moscow after the 415 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:27,789 Revolution and it looks very different 416 00:20:25,419 --> 00:20:29,590 it looks so cleaned up now there was 417 00:20:27,789 --> 00:20:31,929 them the work glasses with unfinished 418 00:20:29,590 --> 00:20:34,539 cornea on the table there were pictures 419 00:20:31,929 --> 00:20:36,759 scattered personal photos just gathered 420 00:20:34,539 --> 00:20:39,039 through the floor there was the web 421 00:20:36,759 --> 00:20:42,070 plastic bags with toothbrush and 422 00:20:39,039 --> 00:20:45,729 underwear just personal thing boxer 423 00:20:42,070 --> 00:20:48,089 shorts of the ruler of Acharya leg lay 424 00:20:45,729 --> 00:20:51,099 on the floor it was amazing look at that 425 00:20:48,089 --> 00:20:54,809 how tacky some talkies ah 426 00:20:51,099 --> 00:20:54,809 is this one of those ones that light up 427 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:07,330 see if he's left any stationary I'm 428 00:21:05,919 --> 00:21:15,360 running short of post-it notes 429 00:21:07,330 --> 00:21:17,699 oh hang on he's got some business cards 430 00:21:15,360 --> 00:21:20,590 imagine giving those out at a party 431 00:21:17,700 --> 00:21:29,380 hi I hear you are at a terrace for 432 00:21:20,590 --> 00:21:32,379 autonomous republic of general Ned cut 433 00:21:29,380 --> 00:21:35,830 off an officially retired Russian 434 00:21:32,380 --> 00:21:38,980 general he was the man who trained the 435 00:21:35,830 --> 00:21:41,830 paramilitary forces of the former regime 436 00:21:38,980 --> 00:21:44,110 of us Lana mashita and he was a man 437 00:21:41,830 --> 00:21:45,610 who's very welcome at his house as many 438 00:21:44,110 --> 00:21:48,760 other Russian politicians including 439 00:21:45,610 --> 00:21:52,418 mayor of Moscow who is a big personal 440 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:55,330 friend what do you think well I'm not 441 00:21:52,419 --> 00:21:57,280 sure it works for the trainer's I hadn't 442 00:21:55,330 --> 00:22:00,280 fully appreciated until we came here 443 00:21:57,280 --> 00:22:03,129 just how strong an important Russian 444 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:06,158 influence in Georgia in the breakaway 445 00:22:03,130 --> 00:22:08,110 states still is I mean even now more 446 00:22:06,159 --> 00:22:13,409 than a decade after the Soviet Union 447 00:22:08,110 --> 00:22:13,408 collapsed Russia still calls the shots 448 00:22:16,350 --> 00:22:20,050 Georgia is still dealing with the 449 00:22:18,430 --> 00:22:22,570 consequences of the collapse of the 450 00:22:20,050 --> 00:22:24,490 Soviet Union at this old military base 451 00:22:22,570 --> 00:22:26,620 tons of ammunition have been abandoned 452 00:22:24,490 --> 00:22:29,400 leading to fears explosives could fall 453 00:22:26,620 --> 00:22:29,399 into the wrong hands 454 00:22:32,110 --> 00:22:36,639 he's a huge anti-aircraft missiles these 455 00:22:35,050 --> 00:22:39,940 are the ones that each contain about a 456 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:42,400 kilo and a half of TNT 457 00:22:39,940 --> 00:22:43,810 there's nobody guarding them as you can 458 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:46,210 see we're just wandering around opening 459 00:22:43,810 --> 00:22:48,040 the cases and these are actually really 460 00:22:46,210 --> 00:22:49,960 quite easy to turn into terrorist 461 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:52,980 weapons or to take the explosive that's 462 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:58,080 in here just inside the end here and 463 00:22:52,980 --> 00:22:58,080 turn it into a quite a significant bomb 464 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:05,010 this one's locked my piece of string 465 00:23:13,350 --> 00:23:17,550 hairs on my arms standing up 466 00:23:22,610 --> 00:23:28,439 there apparently are the ones that they 467 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:30,419 found outside the base once that just 468 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:34,140 people would steal and take them apart 469 00:23:30,420 --> 00:23:36,299 in in the bullshit take copper parts and 470 00:23:34,140 --> 00:23:37,679 just throw them around you can see that 471 00:23:36,299 --> 00:23:40,110 they're falling apart 472 00:23:37,679 --> 00:23:44,220 yeah and that means once once they start 473 00:23:40,110 --> 00:23:45,809 rusting how many are they here do we 474 00:23:44,220 --> 00:23:49,620 know hundreds thousands just in this 475 00:23:45,809 --> 00:23:54,450 room 30,000 that they dismantled now 476 00:23:49,620 --> 00:23:56,100 they need to melt TNT out scientists 477 00:23:54,450 --> 00:23:58,110 here are trying to dismantle the shelves 478 00:23:56,100 --> 00:24:02,370 and remove the explosives but they're 479 00:23:58,110 --> 00:24:04,350 hopelessly underfunded I was then taken 480 00:24:02,370 --> 00:24:06,600 to see far more powerful rockets lying 481 00:24:04,350 --> 00:24:08,580 unprotected and unguarded there's not 482 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:11,280 even money for petrol for a lawnmower to 483 00:24:08,580 --> 00:24:13,470 cut the dry grass a major fire risk but 484 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:17,280 it does show us a kilogram there are 200 485 00:24:13,470 --> 00:24:19,049 kilos of TNT in each rocket one can 486 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:21,750 destroy almost anything they are 487 00:24:19,049 --> 00:24:24,120 extremely powerful for example a 488 00:24:21,750 --> 00:24:28,470 skyscraper our tool here sucks down 489 00:24:24,120 --> 00:24:31,199 gross Oh problem look how easy would it 490 00:24:28,470 --> 00:24:33,660 be for somebody to take the explosives 491 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:36,540 in these missiles and use them in a 492 00:24:33,660 --> 00:24:38,700 terrorist weapon well appear to Signet 493 00:24:36,540 --> 00:24:40,799 everything is inside that's why a small 494 00:24:38,700 --> 00:24:44,040 spark or static discharge will detonate 495 00:24:40,799 --> 00:24:47,610 the static will return has gone up it 496 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:55,080 Vitelli rocket you could detonate one 497 00:24:47,610 --> 00:25:00,299 with a small battery a limited this is 498 00:24:55,080 --> 00:25:04,460 the fence around the base I'm you there 499 00:25:00,299 --> 00:25:04,460 is no fence there's nothing there 500 00:25:07,820 --> 00:25:13,110 the directors just mentioned that soon 501 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:14,850 this base will be reclassified at the 502 00:25:13,110 --> 00:25:17,250 moment it's a military base so it has 503 00:25:14,850 --> 00:25:19,469 five guards soon it's come not going to 504 00:25:17,250 --> 00:25:20,910 be a military base anymore so even those 505 00:25:19,470 --> 00:25:25,140 five guards are going to be taken away 506 00:25:20,910 --> 00:25:26,910 and all these guns all the missiles all 507 00:25:25,140 --> 00:25:30,210 the shells tens of thousands of shells 508 00:25:26,910 --> 00:25:31,020 are we completely unguarded which is why 509 00:25:30,210 --> 00:25:33,050 we're not going to tell you where they 510 00:25:31,020 --> 00:25:33,050 are 511 00:25:36,510 --> 00:25:49,750 [Music] 512 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:51,510 we traveled west to Abkhazia the largest 513 00:25:49,750 --> 00:25:53,950 of Georgia's breakaway states after 514 00:25:51,510 --> 00:25:55,990 declaring independence they also fought 515 00:25:53,950 --> 00:25:58,240 a war with Georgia in the early 90s that 516 00:25:55,990 --> 00:26:01,090 killed thousands and ended in an easy 517 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:04,299 stalemate the United Nations has an 518 00:26:01,090 --> 00:26:06,899 unarmed presence in Abkhazia these 519 00:26:04,299 --> 00:26:09,059 checkpoint is under Russian 520 00:26:06,899 --> 00:26:15,589 responsibility 521 00:26:09,059 --> 00:26:15,589 and there is possible for security here 522 00:26:16,630 --> 00:26:21,260 we've been warned it would be difficult 523 00:26:18,770 --> 00:26:22,610 to get in so UN peacekeeper said we 524 00:26:21,260 --> 00:26:24,710 could hitch a ride with one of their 525 00:26:22,610 --> 00:26:27,429 patrols through the southern part of the 526 00:26:24,710 --> 00:26:27,430 breakaway state 527 00:26:27,820 --> 00:26:33,720 so where we 528 00:26:29,860 --> 00:26:38,820 no we are now we are on the present site 529 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:38,820 we were in Abkhazia we are in Abkhazia 530 00:26:45,850 --> 00:26:49,139 you can see the refugees 531 00:26:52,650 --> 00:27:02,220 I can do anything specific to scurvy 532 00:26:59,730 --> 00:27:04,550 tusculum depreciate is forbidden to take 533 00:27:02,220 --> 00:27:07,260 short okay I will not 534 00:27:04,550 --> 00:27:08,940 we're just crossing back into Georgia 535 00:27:07,260 --> 00:27:11,720 from our kasi because the housing 536 00:27:08,940 --> 00:27:13,910 authorities have refused to allow us in 537 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:17,040 they've been completely uncooperative 538 00:27:13,910 --> 00:27:20,880 you need to discuss things with us into 539 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:22,950 Simeon this kick is out we tried to 540 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:26,040 interrupt Garcia several times but were 541 00:27:22,950 --> 00:27:27,750 refused like many others when war broke 542 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:32,629 out with Georgia thousands fled into 543 00:27:27,750 --> 00:27:35,190 refuge wherever they could amide ever 544 00:27:32,630 --> 00:27:36,900 years later this old tea factory is 545 00:27:35,190 --> 00:27:41,670 still home to a number of families from 546 00:27:36,900 --> 00:27:42,570 Acacio Oh what kind of life are you 547 00:27:41,670 --> 00:27:45,090 talking about 548 00:27:42,570 --> 00:27:47,490 you call this life there's no 549 00:27:45,090 --> 00:27:51,389 electricity no food the water this is 550 00:27:47,490 --> 00:27:54,090 not life yes yeah yeah they get 551 00:27:51,390 --> 00:27:57,810 electricity for two or three hours every 552 00:27:54,090 --> 00:28:01,050 15 days and they have running water only 553 00:27:57,810 --> 00:28:02,820 when they have electricity he told me 554 00:28:01,050 --> 00:28:06,320 his final wish was to be buried in 555 00:28:02,820 --> 00:28:06,320 Abkhazia his homeland 556 00:28:08,930 --> 00:28:14,220 it's our tradition that we cannot be 557 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:23,400 buried outside our country we have to be 558 00:28:14,220 --> 00:28:25,620 buried in our own land he's now telling 559 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:28,440 the stories I got the easiest way to get 560 00:28:25,620 --> 00:28:43,709 to our pauses to die and get yourself 561 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:50,610 place at the cemetery if we can load on 562 00:28:43,710 --> 00:28:51,720 the horizon this is ridiculous I mean 563 00:28:50,610 --> 00:28:53,010 what the hell are these two what the 564 00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:57,710 hell are they all doing here what I want 565 00:28:53,010 --> 00:28:57,710 how how we allowed just to walk in here 566 00:28:58,260 --> 00:29:00,320 you