The West's confrontation with Russia over Georgia's democratic future

2024-06-18 16:00:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The West's confrontation with Russia over Georgia's democratic future

Murals in Tbilisi buildings, source VOA

The European Union granted candidate country status to Georgia last year, but analysts say that under the leadership of the country's richest oligarch, the government has turned to Russia after the attack on Ukraine in 2022. As the Voice of America correspondent reports from Tbilisi, Henry Ridgwell, critics warn that Georgia's democratic future will be decided in the October election.

Georgians call it "glass castle". A $50 million mansion high above Tbilisi. There is a helipad and even an aquarium with sharks. Billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia's richest oligarch and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, lives here.

"Ivanishvili is the real ruler of this country. He owns a third of Georgia's gross domestic product and made his fortune in Russia in the late 1990s. He continues to have interests in Russia through companies in tax havens – not only him, but also his family members. Is it possible or realistic to expect from such an individual that he will do everything for Georgia to become a member of the EU and NATO? I don't think so" , says Eka Cigauri, from the anti-corruption organization Transparency International, branch in Georgia.

This battle for the future of Georgia, whether it will be part of the West or the geopolitical orbit of Russia, is taking place in the streets of Tbilisi.

A law known as the "foreign agents" law, similar to Russia's, has reinvigorated the opposition ahead of the October election.

Anti-government protesters show solidarity with Ukraine, which is fighting Russian aggression.

The protests have forced the oligarch Ivanishvili to make his positions clearer. During a pro-government rally in April, he said that "a pro-war global Western force" was intervening in Georgia.

"Russia's attack on Ukraine prompted it to choose more clearly which side it supports. He didn't want to do it, but turned to Russia, although the Georgian Dream party tries to hide it, not to say it openly. Ivanishvili made the strategic decision that Russia is winning the war; so we should stay with the next winner, as he sees it" , says political analyst Ghia Nodia.

Critics say that the Georgian Dream party is exploiting the fears of the population.

"The main propaganda line now is that 'if we are not in power, the war with Russia is inevitable'. They are trying to present the West - in particular the United States and the European Union - as a kind of enemy of Georgia's traditional interests and family values" , says Aka Zarkua, from the "Governance Monitoring Center" organization.

"The main objective of the Georgian government now is to maintain peace ," says Fridon Injia, pro-government MP, Party of European Socialists.

The opposition says that the West should have understood more intelligently the true motives of the Georgian Dream party.

"It is the lack of concentration, attention and in general understanding that what is happening in Georgia is part of the wider confrontation with Russia" , says Giga Bokeria, chairman of the European Georgia party.

Analysts say the law on foreign agents has politicized the younger generation, which is firmly seeking a change of government in elections in October.

Others warn that Mr. Ivanishvili is an old player in politics who will fight to keep control./ VOA