[LibertyRocks]

No, RusIvan, he didn't change it.

If you will please see the last 2 paragraphs in the article which was linked after the quote from the UPI. Following that will be the quote from RIA Novosti the RUSSIAN News Source... The differences below can probably be attributed to the translator. I would suspect that the UPI one is more accurate.

From the UPI:

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT WARNS GEORGIANS Published: Aug. 18, 2008 at 11:35 AM

"If anyone thinks they can get away with killing our citizens and officers, we will not allow this," Medvedev said. "Anyone who tries to do something of the kind will receive a crushing response."

Medvedev said Russia is seeking respect, not escalation.

"We have always been a peace-loving nation," he said. "The Russian, Soviet state has never started a war."[emphasis mine].

Here is the quote as published in the RUSSIAN news source RIA NOVOSTI:

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PLEDGES HARSH RESPONSE TO AGGRESSION
Published August 18, 2008

"We have always been a peace-loving nation. Neither the Soviet, nor the Russian state has ever started a war. But even the most peace-loving state should have an effective army," Medvedev added. [emphasis mine]

[LibertyRocks]

Sorry for the double-post...

[RusIvan]

We have always been a peace-loving nation. Neither the Soviet, nor the Russian state has ever started a war. ==

All right. May be I had mistaken he said that. I saw this his remark on TV alaive. DO not remember he saing “Soviet”. But if so many sources tell he said that then OK he said that. IMO it is wrong saying then.