Georgia was outraged by the Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement that Tbilisi should sign a non-use of force agreement with Sukhumi and Tskhinvali. Tbilisi reminded Moscow that it must fulfill its own obligations before telling others what to do.
At the same time, part of the Georgian opposition believes that the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry is a clear confirmation of what the opponents have warned the Georgian authorities about: “flirting” and compromises with Russia do not will not change the policy of the Russian authorities and will be counterproductive for Georgia.
Recall that on February 13, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the media that Russia “aims to continue the comprehensive development of allied relations” with two Georgian regions, whose independence Moscow has recognized. 15 years ago following the Russo-Georgian war. .
“We attach particular importance to ensuring the security of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russian military bases operate on their territory, joint protection of state borders is carried out in order to prevent possible provocations from outside, which is relevant in new geopolitical realities. We expect binding agreements from Georgia on the non-use of force against these countries. We see this as a guarantee of stability in the region,” said the press secretary of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The fact is that the issue of non-use of force has for years confused the Geneva talks, convened in 2008 to discuss the issue of Georgia’s territorial integrity with the participation of Tbilisi, Sukhumi, Tskhinvali, Moscow and international representatives. In particular, Tbilisi claims that it has already unilaterally pledged not to use force to restore its territorial integrity, and refuses to sign such an agreement with Tskhinvali and Sukhumi, stressing that the separatist regions “are not parties independent of the conflict”.
Tbilisi insists that signing such an agreement – if necessary – is only possible with Russia. At the same time, Moscow declares that it does not recognize itself as a party to the conflict and refuses to sign this agreement.
Maria Zakharova’s words provoked an unusually harsh reaction within the ruling Georgian Dream party. Aluda Gudushauri, a lawmaker from the ruling party, called the statements by the Russian Foreign Ministry representative “immoral, distorting reality and ignoring facts”. He reminded Zakharova of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the August War case, issued on January 21, 2021. In particular, the ECHR concluded that it is Russia who is responsible for the violation of human rights in the occupied regions of Georgia. Gudushauri at the same time demanded that Maria Zakharova “give an answer when her country fulfills its obligations to Georgia”.
Recall that Russia has not yet fulfilled its own obligations, which it assumed on August 12, 2008, when signing the ceasefire agreement. According to this document, Moscow was to withdraw its troops to pre-war positions and allow international observers to enter occupied Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region.
“Russia is a state occupying the territories of our country, and it has already taken on obligations that it must fulfill. And if we are talking about who should start doing something, then first of all it is the country of Zakharova and its leaders, who took on obligations, but still not fulfilled, ”said the deputy from the ruling party Georgian dream. .
At the same time, David Usupashvili, a former speaker of the Georgian parliament and now an opposition deputy Lelo, noted in a comment for the media that Georgia, both orally and in a parliamentary resolution, had long since set its position that it does not use force against Abkhazians and Ossetians and restores territorial integrity only by peaceful means.
“Let Zakharova call on her president to resolve all her issues peacefully,” Usupashvili told the media.
At the same time, the opposition said that “tail-wagging, kneeling and flattering”, which opponents of the Georgian authorities say characterizes Tbilisi’s policy towards Russia, “leads nowhere”.
The opposition believes that instead of “compromise” with Moscow, Georgian Dream should work closely with a much more reliable force, ie. with Western partners.
“It is absurd that anyone in Georgian Dream imagines that by compromising with Russia, by criticizing the West and Ukraine, by distancing ourselves from NATO and the EU, we can achieve everything. Zakharova reiterated that they will not change their policy,” opposition Strategy Agmashenebeli said.
Recall that over the past year, the ruling “Georgian Dream” and the forces associated with it have become increasingly intensely critical of Western partners, arguing, among other things, that the United, with Kiev, would like to “open a second front” in parallel with Ukraine in Georgia to weaken Russia. At the same time, the tone of the Georgian authorities towards Russia began to soften, and representatives of the ruling party began to avoid direct criticism of the President of the Russian Federation and Russian leaders.
The “courageous” stance of Georgia’s ruling party and its defiance of “Western pressure” has recently been praised by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as well as other Russian politicians. This provoked protests from pro-Western forces in Georgia.
Recall that the United States has repeatedly refuted accusations of interest in involving Georgia in the war with Russia, calling them disinformation.
“This misinformation is being spread by those trying to confuse Georgians and trying to further divide this country, those trying to undermine the long-standing partnership that exists between Georgia and the United States of America,” said Kelly Degnan, the U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, said Feb. 9.
