Friction between Russia and its neighbors -- all components of the former Soviet Union -- continues.
Georgian forces detained two Russian "peacekeepers" in South Ossetia, accusing them of smuggling. They were later released as a "manifestation of goodwill." Showing less goodwill, Russia held Manana Dzhabelia, a diabetic Georgian woman, for two months pending deportation. Unfortunately, she died in custody, the second such death since Russia began expelling ethnic Georgians. She is said to have not received proper medical care while being held.
Meanwhile, U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs Nicholas Burns has called for Russia to withdraw its remaining troops from both Georgia and Moldova, and to keep out of internal conflicts in neighboring states. In response, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov called for an avoidance of "politicized solutions" to these problems.