But “genocides” aren’t what they used to be and the Russian government, which had previously claimed 2,100 civilians were killed in the war, lowered that number dramatically, concluding that the official civilian toll is 162. Also killed were 48 Russian soldiers and 215 Georgian soldiers. Georgia, as it has with previous allegations of war crimes, condemned their accusers, saying it was a “cynical lie” and part of a “Kremlin propaganda campaign.”

The journalists travelled to the region separately and by different routes. They spoke to different people. But their findings are consistent: Georgia launched an indiscriminate military assault on South Ossetia's main town, Tskhinvali. The hospital was among the buildings attacked; doctors were injured even as they operated. The timing of the Georgian attack, as of the arrival of the first Russian reinforcements two days later, coincides for the most part with the original Russian version. It was only then that the Russians crossed into Georgia proper in the invasion of sovereign territory that has been universally decried. For the record, it should be added that Russia has now withdrawn from uncontested Georgian territory, in accordance with the agreement mediated by President Sarkozy.