For most of the last two decades, though, this dilapidated Soviet hotel was nicknamed the Hotel of Tears, and lived in by people who fled war in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

ECONOMIST: The perils and persistence of displacement

Russia has said that its prosecutors are collecting evidence in South Ossetia with which to indict Mr Saakashvili as a war criminal.

ECONOMIST: The West and Russia

Russia has violated the terms of the peace deal brokered by France's Nicolas Sarkozy, which demands that all sides withdraw troops to pre-war lines and refuses to allow international monitors into South Ossetia or Abkhazia.

ECONOMIST: The Russia-Georgia war

Russia and Georgia fought a five-day war in August 2008 over the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia -- the first time Russia sent troops abroad to fight since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

CNN: NATO, Russia to resume military relationship

Russia fought a four-day war with Georgia after it tried to retake the Moscow-backed breakaway province of South Ossetia on 7 August, following days of clashes with separatists.

BBC: UN split over Georgia resolutions