When the Soviet Union was on the verge of collapse, Georgia was one of the “allied” republics, after the Baltic states, that tried the hardest to break away from the empire. This led to Tbilisi receiving heavy blows from the Kremlin. In this respect, Russia-Georgia relations after the collapse of the Soviet Union have always been volatile and unstable.
During the years when both Zviad Gamsakhurdia and Eduard Shevardnadze ruled independent Georgia, there were occasional problems between Tbilisi and Moscow. Under Mikheil Saakashvili, relations reached a complete deadlock and tensions between the two countries reached their peak. Thus, Saakashvili’s policy of full independence or pro-Westernization resulted in the Russian occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
In 2012, with the coming to power of the Georgian Dream Party founded by Bidzina Ivanishvili, Russia-Georgia relations have been softening and constructive. Serious developments have been observed especially in the field of economic cooperation.
On the one hand, the results of Moscow’s “soft power” policy, which has increased Moscow’s influence over Tbilisi, have begun to bear fruit, while on the other hand, the West has been disappointed by the “Draft Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence” planned by Georgia, which is fighting for European values such as democracy and freedom.
United States (US) Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee that the “Transparency of Foreign Influence Bill” adopted by the Georgian Parliament on May 14 was modelled after the Moscow administration.[1] Stating that this law contradicts the desire of the absolute majority of Georgians to move towards EU integration, Blinken said that the US would not let this go unanswered.
In response to Western threats, Russia supports the Georgian government’s decision and says that the US provoked the protests in the country. There are even Russian political analysts who believe that these marches serve to keep the “Overton window” open.[2]
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova also explained on Sputnik Radio that the European Union’s own legislation on foreign agents, which is being developed in the European Union, is even tougher than the US legislation, but this is not known to the protesters in Tbilisi who opposed the adoption of the “Transparency of Foreign Influence Bill” by the Georgian Parliament.[3]
However, observing Georgia’s relations with the West as of 2020, it becomes clear that it has not only chosen the West as an alternative to Russia, but has also turned to other geopolitical centers. For example, Georgia, having gained the opportunity to participate in China’s interregional transportation projects through Baku-Tbilisi-Ceylan, has turned into a successful partner in the region, aiming for mutually beneficial cooperation with everyone.
The agreement with Azerbaijan on the export of green energy produced in Georgia and Azerbaijan to Europe via Georgia underscored Georgia’s position in the Central Corridor. Oil and gas pipelines in the region further strengthen Georgia’s strategic position. In the aftermath of the Russian-Ukrainian War, the role of the Central Corridor as an alternative to the Northern and Southern corridors has significantly increased, both in terms of security and time savings.
Georgia has not seen the tangible support that the West offers Ukraine today in its struggle against Russia. In addition, Russia has strengthened its regional position over the years and has greater opportunities. Moreover, in addition to the Abkhaz or Ossetian communities, a significant part of the Georgian population has strong ties with Russia. All these factors influence the decisions taken by the Georgian government.
In a wide-ranging interview with one of the local TV channels, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that it is impossible to combine respect for traditions and so-called liberalism:[4]
“We need classical, traditional values in our country. We must understand that the national identity of our country must be preserved to the end, including, of course, the Orthodox Church, Christian values. If our Christian culture is destroyed, there will be nothing left of Georgia’s Europeanness. Therefore, we must preserve this culture as much as possible.’’
The current geopolitical conjuncture also reveals the frustration in the foreign policies of great powers trying to maintain their influence in many regions. As a matter of fact, the methods used to make the local population feel that their national interests are at risk in the regions where they want to maintain their influence have now been carefully monitored by states like Georgia, which has gained experience in its relations with both its neighbours and the Euro-Atlantic front, and important measures have begun to be taken in this regard. The decisions taken by the Georgian government today may be partly due to the self-confidence that this realization has given it.
The developments in Georgia’s relations with Russia do not necessarily mean that Georgia will completely move away from the Euro-Atlantic line in the near term. Nevertheless, the government’s careful steps to avoid Western sanctions and its focus on enhancing regional cooperation may do more to achieve its self-interested goals. It can be argued that regional cooperation has become important in the era of the new world order.
In conclusion, Georgia, which has entered a new and important stage on its way to European integration, will depend on the Georgian government’s ability to successfully manage the tensions that are about to escalate due to the new law, to act with a “win-win” approach and to maintain its image as a “reliable partner” in the region.
[1] “Госсекретарь США про закон “об иноагентах” в Грузии: «Он взят у руководства Москвы»“, Jam News, https://t.ly/Din6y, (Access Date: 23.05.2024).
[2] “Запад давно пытается переформировать грузинский народ под свое поле — эксперт”, Riamo, https://riamo.ru/news/politika/zapad-davno-pytaetsja-pereformirovat-gruzinskij-narod-pod-svoe-pole-ekspert/, (Access Date: 23.05.2024).
[3] “Захарова: ЕС готовит жесткое законодательство об иноагентах”, Radio Sputnik, https://radiosputnik.ru/20240515/zakharova-1945931829.html, (Access Date: 23.05.2024).
[4] “Премьер-министр Грузии о “глобальной партии войны” и “беспомощном выражении лица” Венецианской комиссии”, Jam News, https://t.ly/FF8IJ, (Access Date: 23.05.2024).
