In a recent development, the Georgian opposition has raised objections to Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili’s participation in the OSCE summit in Skopje, North Macedonia, particularly due to the presence of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The opposition argues that Georgia should have emulated the stance of other nations that chose to boycott the summit in protest against Russia’s actions, especially in the context of the Ukraine conflict.
The opposition party Lelo has criticized the Georgian government’s decision, stating, “While nations that understand the implications of Russian occupation take a definitive stand, Georgian Foreign Minister Darchiashvili has refrained from declaring a boycott. This decision is seen as indicative of the government’s alignment with Russia, compromising Georgia’s foreign policy and international reputation.â€
The OSCE summit, scheduled from November 30 to December 1, has been boycotted by several countries, including the Baltic states, Poland, and Ukraine, largely due to Lavrov’s attendance. This follows a precedent set last year when Poland denied entry to the Russian delegation for an OSCE meeting, citing Russia’s military involvement in Ukraine.
In response to these criticisms, the ruling Georgian Dream party highlighted the participation of prominent Western leaders such as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Chief Josep Borrell at the summit. Irakli Kobakhidze, chairman of Georgian Dream, argued that Georgia’s participation is crucial for defending its national interests, especially in the presence of key Western figures.
Georgian Dream also criticized the boycotting Baltic countries for what it perceives as double standards, pointing to their significant wine exports to Russia. According to official statistics, there has been an increase in wine exports to Russia from Lithuania, Latvia, and Georgia in 2023. Georgian Dream’s argument centers on the perceived hypocrisy of these countries in advocating for sanctions against Russia while maintaining robust trade relations with it.
However, analysts note that the situation with the Baltic countries involves complexities, such as the re-export of Italian and Spanish wines through their logistics networks. Additionally, Lithuania’s Ministry of Economy and Innovation reported a 55% reduction in Lithuanian product exports to Russia compared to the summer of 2022.
The Georgian government’s approach towards Russia has been a subject of domestic and international debate. Despite aligning with international sanctions against Russia, Georgia initially refrained from imposing individual sanctions, leading to a diplomatic rift with Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded by recalling the Ukrainian ambassador from Georgia, a position that remains unfilled.
President Salome Zourabichvili, along with the opposition, has criticized the Georgian Dream for its ambiguous position on Ukraine and reluctance to confront the Kremlin. They argue that such policies are distancing Georgia from its traditional allies and nudging it closer to Russia’s sphere of influence. This perception is reinforced by positive remarks from Russian politicians towards Georgian leadership, particularly following statements against unilateral sanctions on Russia, which the opposition interprets as evidence of a pro-Russian bias in Georgian policy.
Addressing Russian commendations, Mamuka Mdinaradze, a leader of the Georgian Dream, expressed concerns that such praise fuels opposition propaganda and questioned Russia’s motives, aware that their approval could be problematic for Georgia’s leadership.
