Georgia celebrates Independence Day on May 26. On this day in 1918, the democratic government of Georgia declared the country’s independence from Russia. The first democratic republic lasted only two and a half years (1918-1921).
In 1921 the Georgian SSR was formed, in 1922 it became part of the USSR, first as part of the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, from 1936 to 1991 as a union republic.
On April 9, 1991, based on the results of a nationwide referendum, the Supreme Council of Georgia passed the Statehood Restoration Act, which declared the Independence Act of 1918 valid. and the 1921 Constitution.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili congratulated Georgian citizens on Independence Day, stressing the importance of maintaining peace in the country. Speaking about Russia’s temporary occupation of Georgian territories, the Prime Minister expressed hope that Georgians, Abkhazians and Ossetians will have “a common future ahead of them, which together we will create only through peaceful efforts based on mutual understanding and respect”.
“The first enemy of freedom is war. Today, our brother Ukrainian people are making enormous sacrifices to defend their freedom in the brutal war unleashed by Russia. Once again, I express my support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, I wish a quick end to the war, peace, reconciliation and freedom,” said Garibashvili, whom opponents accuse of insufficient solidarity with Ukraine.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the European future of the country and that the authorities intend to do everything possible so that at the end of the year the country receives the status of candidate, which will be the start of a new stage. of integration into the European Union.
Flag controversy
It should be noted that on the eve of the Independence Day of Georgia, the topic of the EU and the actions of the authorities in this direction became another reason for the dispute between the opposition and the ruling party, whom opponents accuse of trying to change the country’s foreign policy. a political vector, in particular, for distancing Georgia from the EU and NATO and bringing it closer to Russia. Opponents of the ruling Georgian Dream party have drawn attention to the fact that, unlike last year, there is no EU flag on the Georgian parliament building in Tbilisi.
The authorities began to justify themselves, stating that last year the May 26 message was the slogan “Towards Europe”, respectively, the EU flag played a key role in decorating cities. Since this year, the main slogan of Independence Day is “With the love of freedom”, according to the authorities, the national flag of Georgia has become the main element of festive decorations.
Recall that, unlike Ukraine and Moldova, in June 2022 Georgia was denied the status of a candidate country for EU membership and presented a list of reforms that the country must implement. implemented before the end of the year.
Nevertheless, opposition citizens found the explanations of the Georgian dream unconvincing and announced that they would hold a procession with the flags of Georgia and the EU in the center of Tbilisi on May 26. At the same time, civil activists called on the people of the country to take part in a flash mob: on Independence Day, hang two flags from the balconies and windows of their homes: Georgia and the European Union. It should be noted that in the end the procession took place on a shortened route, because due to the events in the central square of Tbilisi, the police did not allow its participants to walk the planned path .
“Incomprehensible politics”
Meanwhile, in a speech at an Independence Day event, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili lambasted the country’s government, blaming Georgian Dream for pursuing an “incomprehensible” foreign policy, arguing that the statements and actions of the authorities “separate us from Europe and lead to isolation.
Zurabishvili denounced the fact that the authorities accepted the restoration of air links with Russia, as well as the fact that representatives of the country’s leadership “inspire fear” by carrying out a disinformation campaign that the West is interested in open a “second front” in Georgia parallel to the Ukrainian one. . The President also criticized the lack of restrictions imposed on Russian migrants who have resettled in Georgia in large numbers over the past year and the fact that the Georgian authorities have allowed the entry into the country of “relatives of representatives of Russia’s top leaders.
“We are at enmity and scold our friends, partners, countries who have lent us a hand for thirty years, helped in the construction and formation of the State. But we warmly welcome and protect those who occupy our territories,” the president said.
It should be noted that last week there were reports in the media that Ekaterina Vinokurova, the daughter of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, was in Georgia at the wedding of her husband’s brother. Following a protest organized outside the hotel building by civic activists, some of the guests, including Vinokurova and her husband, left the country. As Georgian Dream representatives later stated, law enforcement officials did not know who Vinokurova’s father was.
Kudos to Zelenskyy and Blinken
Georgia has been congratulated on Independence Day by foreign politicians and world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Relations between our peoples are based on mutual aid and respect. This is particularly important in the context of Russia’s large-scale armed aggression against Ukraine. Our State has always supported and will continue to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. I am sure that the Ukrainian and Georgian people will be able to disoccupy their territories, bring back a just peace in Ukraine and Georgia and security in the Black Sea region,” read Zelenskyy’s congratulations, which he sent to the Georgian president.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also sent his congratulations to Georgia. The head of the State Department noted that “the people of Georgia are well aware of the price of independence, freedom and democracy”.
“Despite Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and its occupation of 20% of Georgian territory, the Georgian people have shown an unwavering determination to embrace their Euro-Atlantic future. We recognize and condemn Russia’s aggressive behavior, including the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008 and the ongoing occupation. We strongly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders,” the State Department said in a statement.
According to Blinken, the United States is “proud” to have supported Georgia’s efforts to achieve a prosperous future during 31 years of bilateral relations.
“I reaffirm the United States’ commitment to helping Georgia build the secure and prosperous European democracy that its citizens want and deserve,” the Secretary of State said in a congratulatory message.
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