When recalling the events of a decade ago, as a rule, they highlight first and foremost the aspect of the clash of an authoritarian state with a democratic country, Russia's reluctance to agree with the changes in Georgia and the course of the country's leadership on European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

But in the war between Russia and Georgia the leading was not only the ideological but also the ethnic aspect. This war led to the almost complete expulsion of the Georgian population from their native villages and the destruction of a number of settlements. Ethnic cleansing in South Ossetia was a continuation of ethnic cleansing in Abkhazia, which took place in the years of Boris Yeltsin's presidency - when Russia was formally regarded as the country of victorious democracy.

The majority of the population was expelled from the Georgian Autonomous Republic. Expelled by ethnicity. Nobody asked the Georgians whether they support the Soviet Union, the new Georgia, the leadership of Abkhazia or Russia. They were simply expelled for the fact that they are Georgians. And people from South Ossetia were expelled by the same principle. Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian activists in the Crimea are also persecuted. Defining here is a person's reluctance to forget about his origin and related values.

Yes, there is not such an ethnic cleansing in the Crimea as in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This is a "hybrid" ethnic cleansing. But does "hybridism" abolish the essence of the problem?

Do we not see that the Russian regime is encouraging approaches that seemingly must sink into oblivion together with Hitler and Stalin - but continue to live in the modern world?.

It is easy to reassure yourself that if you do not interfere in politics, you will live with any power. But when there is a power capable of persecuting not for views, but for nationality, religion, native language or sexual orientation - there is no longer you can hide. Because the whole world around you is turning into a burnt village.

Original.