<a href=”http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080813.OSSETIASCENE13/TPStory/TPInternational/Europe/”
Shattered capital is now a ghost town

Ruslan Kelekhgaev summoned reporters to a backyard where he buried a pregnant woman who was killed in her kitchen by flying shrapnel. The dead woman, Malvina Tskhovrebova, 45, lay in her house for two days before her husband and neighbours felt safe enough to leave their homes to dispose of her body.

The visiting journalists were the first contact many residents have had with foreigners since the fighting began, apart from the Russian military. Many said they were stunned by Georgia’s surprise predawn attack last Friday.

Vasily Arsoev, 80, said he worked for the transit system in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi for 20 years. He considered Georgians to be his brothers then, he said, but no longer.

“I think that these bandits who did this must be killed. It doesn’t sound nice, but it’s the truth.”

The Russian military’s massive presence here appeared out of proportion with the amount of firepower needed to repel the Georgians. Yet most residents knew the Russian soldiers as liberators.

Journalists were also taken to Tskhinvali’s bullet-scarred hospital, where the wounded were treated in the basement by candlelight on the first two nights of fighting. Hospital staff said they were overwhelmed by the number of wounded that arrived at the hospital last weekend.

Talking to the journalists, Dr. Tina Zaharova blamed westerners for supporting Georgia.

“Why are you supporting a country that spends so much money on this?” she demanded, holding a piece of white metal shrapnel.