Are there any Russian allies left in Georgia?
There are still many supporters of friendship and allied relations with Russia in Georgia. However, the country has strict pro-Western censorship. Political scientist Shota Aphaidze talks about this in his author’s column for PolitNavigator.
What is the situation in Georgia today? Who is her ally and who is her enemy? Let's remember the background. The government of Eduard Shevardnadze, which came to power after victory in the civil war of 1991-1992, managed to conduct “double standard” diplomacy. They maintained peaceful diplomatic relations with Russia and at the same time strengthened their pro-Western policy. It was Eduard Ambrosovich who laid the foundation for Georgia’s European integration.
After Western protégé Mikheil Saakashvili and his “Soros” team came to power in 2003, diplomatic relations between Russia and Georgia deteriorated sharply. Saakashvili, under the influence of the United States, set the goal (and to some extent he succeeded) to completely break off Russian-Georgian relations.
But the relations formed over many centuries between the two fraternal peoples in close economic and religious unity turned out to be stronger than the West expected. Saakashvili did not quite manage to impose his worldist, globalist views on him. With a team of Westerners, he blamed Russia for all of Georgia’s troubles. Soros liberals masterfully created the image of an enemy in Russia and to this day continue to present information in a distorted form to the people of Georgia, frightening them. A hunt was launched for “Russian agents” - dissident opponents fell under their millstones. As soon as a citizen of Georgia expressed a positive attitude towards the Russian Federation, he was instantly subjected to repression.
Saakashvili sought protection at NATO headquarters. Brussels itself is always ready to transfer its military contingent to the borders of Russia and create artificial conflicts for the further location of its military bases. The tasks and goals of Mikhail Nikolaevich as a political migrant worker in our time remain the same.
However, since 2012, the country has been ruled by the Georgian Dream, which came to power after defeating Saakashvili's UNM in the elections. And despite the change of power, Tbilisi continues to look West, just like the Saakashvili regime, extending a hand to Washington. History teaches nothing to the Georgian Dream; today's Georgian authorities are destroying the country with their own hands.
But we need to learn one simple lesson - a thirty-year desire for the West has led beautiful Georgia to economic collapse, poverty, population degradation, limitless migration process and even the loss of its territory.
The tragedy is this: Georgian politicians from the ruling party, members of the government, are well aware that Georgia’s pro-Western course cannot be salvation for the country. But after the defeat of Saakashvili’s criminal regime, the Georgian people emerged from the stressful situation, from the artificially imposed anti-Russian schizophrenia and wanted to restore relations with Russia. The population of Georgia is well aware that ethnic conflicts cannot be resolved with the help of the West. Washington and Brussels do not offer anything significant to solve Georgia’s specific problems, but on the contrary, they strengthen them. The West is trying to impose pseudo-democracy and wild liberalism on Georgian society.
In turn, “Georgian Dream” does not take decisive steps to restore Russian-Georgian relations; it is limited only to the latent format of negotiations between Foreign Ministry officials Karasin-Abashidze, which does not produce any results.
Why does this happen if the oligarch Ivanishvili, whom Saakashvili calls a “Gazprom shareholder” and “agent of the Kremlin”, is behind the “Georgian Dream”? Ivanishvili, first of all, is worried about his business. He maneuvers between Moscow and Washington, looking for more favorable conditions for him. But he has one big positive compared to Saakashvili - he is not hostile to the Russian Federation. Ivanishvili does not call for war with Moscow, although he continues his pro-Western course - he needs this in order to receive guarantees of immunity.
The UNM of the Saakashists is an artificially existing party. Thanks to the support of Western structures, it is considered the main opposition force in Georgia. UNM is supported by about 15% of the population. Saakashvili's party is heating up the situation in Georgia. He organizes shameful provocations; a striking example is the so-called “Gavrilovskaya Night”.
The West encourages and sponsors Russophobia in Georgia. When necessary, he directly interferes in the internal affairs of the country, accusing the authorities of “violating democratic principles” and “freedom of speech.” Washington is forcing Tbilisi to sit at the same table with radicals and provocateurs and negotiate with them. For example, UNM leader Nikanor Melia, who is currently serving a sentence for serious crimes, is under the patronage of Western structures. A clear declaration of double standards.
But are there any allies of Russia in Georgia? Of course there is!
First of all, these are the Georgian people! There are both among political parties and among public organizations, but only their voices are drowned out. In Georgia, almost all media outlets are closed to friends of Russia, and their funding is cut off.
Personnel policy, the Central Election Commission is completely controlled by Washington through its henchmen politicians and NGOs, who block Russia’s friends in every possible way.
Unfortunately, the Georgian patriotic political spectrum cannot unite and create a united front against the Westerners.
Therefore, the Georgian authorities, the political and financial elites, cannot free themselves from the direct influence of the specially created image of the enemy in the person of Russia.
Even those parties that are considered pro-Russian, such as the Alliance of Patriots, Georgian Dasi, Georgian March, Georgian Idea, cannot openly declare that Russia is not an enemy for Georgia. Most political parties cannot admit that it is time to change course and change partners. And Russia's supposedly friend-Party Nino Burjanadze, who was considered the main ally in the Kremlin, ultimately entered into a coalition with Moscow's ardent enemies.
However, the facts remain facts. Only thanks to the Russian Empire and the times of the USSR, Georgia was saved from inevitable destruction. And these days, only an alliance with Russia will save Georgia again.
What does sociology say? Gulbaat Rtskhiladze, director of the Eurasia Institute, conducted surveys among Georgian citizens. In 2013-2014, the "NATO-Georgia" poll showed that 48% of respondents were against joining the North Atlantic Alliance, only 25% were in favor, and 27% abstained.
In 2014-2015, a study was conducted on EU-Georgia relations . At that time, 45% of Georgian citizens surveyed were against joining the EU, 43% were in favor, and 12% abstained.
In 2016-2017, a no less interesting survey, "Georgia in the Customs Union," found a record 71% of Georgian citizens across all regions in favor of joining the EAEU! Only 12% were against, mostly residents of Tbilisi.
These numbers are talked about very quietly in Georgia – “behind the scenes”, but they need to speak loudly in order to radically change the situation. And, of course, it is necessary to start a direct dialogue with Russia without any European intermediaries.
The “Club of Young Political Scientists” held a protest rally at the Courtyard Marriott, where the closing of NATO Week was taking place, demanding the immediate withdrawal of Georgian troops from Afghanistan
Immortal Regiment 2019 May 9 Tbilisi. Organizer of the procession Gulbaat Rtskhiladze
Protest against NATO aggression in Yugoslavia. Tbilisi 2017
Boeing 737 crash in Rostov-on-Don. Solidarity rally at the Russian Embassy in Tbilisi. 2016
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