Russia–United States relations when Russia and Georgia fought a five-day war over the Russian-backed self-proclaimed republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Despite U.S.–Russia relations becoming strained during the Bush administration, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev (president from May 2008 until May 2012, with Vladimir Putin as head of government) and U.S. president Barack Obama struck a warm tone at the 2009 G20 summit in London and released a joint statement that promised a "fresh start" in Russia–United States relations. The statement also called on Iran to abandon its nuclear program and to permit foreign inspectors into the country. In March 2009, U.S. Secretary of
Human rights in South Ossetia Georgian Kingdom. Following this, the political climate in Ossetia deteriorated, opening the doors for Russian annexation. During 1918 a peasant uprising had broke out in the region of South Ossetia and forcefully suppressed by Menshevik peoples guard, carried out by Georgian, Jaliko Jugheli. A Russian endorsed force crossed the border and attacked the Georgian army and guard, this action perpetrated violent reactions by the Georgians provoking bloodless battles. This ensued thousands of deaths furthermore thousands of Ossetians fled to Soviet Russia. At the conclusion of this battle many villages were burnt and fertile land was desolated. Between the years of