The success of the Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused deep discussions on the future of Europe and its neighbors. The situation in Georgia already gives us some answers to these questions. Georgia, a small country in the Caucasus, became the first point where Putin openly expressed his willingness to use the force to expand Russian influence.
On Monday evening, April 29, Georgian Bidzin Ivanishvili, who earned his billions in Russia, made a speech that accused the Global Party of War of trying to prevent Georgia from protecting her freedom and sovereignty. Ivanishvili stressed that the same Global Party of War previously used non -governmental organizations to hold a rose revolution in 2003 in Georgia and now controls the country through the ruling Party "The Georgian Dream".
The removal of power, which Ivanishvili describes as a puppet, led to an increase in crime and repression in the country, as well as to war with Russia in 2008. According to researcher Thomas de Vaal, this speech is "extremely dangerous" and reflects the support of Ivanishvili by Moscow in confrontation with the West, using the same propaganda as Russian leaders.
In response to the speech of Bidzina Ivanishvili, a group of 67 Georgian diplomats stated that the Georgian Dream and Ivanishvili himself changed the foreign policy course, transferring it from west to Russia.
Ivanishvili twice suggested that the government submit a bill on foreign agents, which is similar to that used in Russia to suppress non -profit organizations that receive foreign grants and do not follow the Kremlin line. The Georgian Dream has a majority in Parliament, but withdrew its support from this bill in March last year after mass protests on the streets. It was at that time that Russia could be said to be in the foreground in Ukraine, after two defeats on the battlefield.
When Ivanishvili tried to sue the repressive law on non -governmental organizations, Russia launched an offensive in Ukraine. Instead of retreating before mass protests, Ivanishvili came to the fore, claiming that the law on foreign agents is his own initiative and the West was his enemy, the agency notes.
The Georgian security officer continues to operate, despite the confrontation of the majority of the population. He also has the support of Moscow, which has troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This testifies to the influence of Putin's victory in Ukraine: the dreams of neighboring peoples are transformed into nightmares.
Recall that in Georgia, despite the protests, a law on foreign agents was adopted in the first reading. According to this bill, nominated by the ruling party of Georgia, organizations that receive more than 20% of funding from abroad will be registered as "foreign agents" after final approval.
