Russia's influence, present on the eve of important elections in Georgia

2024-10-26 21:00:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Elections in Georgia will be held as the government faces accusations that it is increasingly influenced by Russia and worries about the country's pro-Western future.

A week before Georgians go to the polls, the news agency Bloomberg revealed a campaign of cyber intrusion targeting the Georgian government, its key industries and critical infrastructure.

According to Bloomberg, in the period between 2017 and 2020, Russian intelligence organizations infiltrated key ministries, the electricity sector and the telecommunications network, exposing Georgia's vulnerabilities.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been hacked 114 times and the information was also from high officials within the ministry. We are all at risk... Every aspect of our daily life is affected by our main enemy" , says cyber security expert Giorgi Iashvili.

But Russia's influence in Georgia goes beyond cyber interference.

"Cyber ??intrusion is only part of the problem. We have a government that is allowing, embracing and even funding Russian infiltration into our political life, economic sphere and security services because they are natural allies. We have a lot of evidence for this", says the head of the opposition Federalist Party, Giga Bokeria.

Last month, US officials told VOA they were preparing sanctions against politician and oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, a powerful figure considered the real authority behind Georgia's government - accusing him of acting under the directives of intelligence services. security of Russia.

"They are indeed implementing the goals and objectives of the Russian intelligence services. There is the possibility that there is large-scale infiltration within various segments of Georgian society or the business community," says opposition leader Kakhaber Kemoklidze.

The ruling party 'Georgian Dream' is being criticized for bringing the country closer to Moscow. This party denies the allegations, saying it has strengthened cyber security.

"In the field of cyber security, we have now put in place more stable systems. We have peace in the country and we are working to liberate Georgia, through international legal mechanisms and with the support of our partners in a peaceful way," declared the deputy from the ranks of the "Georgian Dream" party, Archil Talakvadze.

Former Interior Ministry official Shota Utiashvili says no Russian spy has been arrested in the past 12 years.

"There is no way to convince me that Russia's intelligence services are not working here... There are a number of examples that show that Russians here are completely safe ," he says.

On the eve of elections in Georgia, Moscow's shadow looms over them, threatening to thrust it into Russia's orbit as it turns its sights on the West./ VOA