POLITICS

Giya ZHORZHOLIANI

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Giya Zhorzholiani, Ph.D. (Hist.), associate professor, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (Tbilisi, Georgia)

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Introduction

The sharply deteriorated relations with Russia were the central event in Georgia’s political life.

In the course of the last year mutual mistrust between the two countries increased; the Georgian ruling circles now believe that Russia will go to all lengths to change the regime in Georgia.

The Russian leadership, in turn, is convinced that Saakashvili and his government are determined to join NATO as quickly as possible, but, before doing that, they want to make strides toward settling the territorial problem.

Mutual mistrust interferes with the sides’ ability to find compromises. Russia has no allies in Georgia, where, as distinct from Ukraine, there is no attractive alternative to President Saakashvili’s policy. There is no strong opposition inside Georgia to be reckoned with. The president believes that concessions, like those made by Moldova, are impossible.

The Russia-Georgia disagreement is being heated by the rapidly approaching Kosovo settlement. It is extremely important for Georgia to achieve radical improvement before the final settlement in Kosovo: everybody knows that the situation in Kosovo differs from that in the conflict zones in Georgia, but if Kosovo gains its independence, the separatist regimes and Russia will exploit it as precedent. To avoid this, the Georgian leaders have tried and will continue trying to present the conflicts as sub-elements of the……………

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