The dangerous game of the West in Georgia.
In recent days, the events related to the violent protests in Georgia have been in the headlines of the world’s media, and questions come to mind specifically, what is the problem and what are its reasons and roots? What is the relationship between these protests and the issue of Georgia’s membership in the European Union and the crisis in Ukraine?
The situation was that on Tuesday, March 16, after the controversial “foreign influence” bill was approved in the Georgian Parliament, a wave of internal protests started. As a result, during the past few days, thousands of Georgians clashed with the police by participating in the demonstrations, and subsequently, the police dispersed the protesters and arrested dozens of them by using tear gas and water cannons. During these clashes, 50 policemen were injured.
Finally, on Friday, March 19, the ruling party “Dream of Georgia” withdrew this controversial bill from the parliament. The bill that this party believes is misinformed to the people, and its purpose is not to kill civil liberties and limit media activity, but to remove the mask from critics of the Orthodox Church as one of the most powerful institutions in this country.
Analysis of the controversial “foreign influence” bill
As mentioned, the protests started on Tuesday with the approval of the draft law by the Parliament of Georgia. This bill obliges the media, organizations, and companies that receive more than 20% of their budget from abroad to introduce themselves as foreign agents and register in special systems that will be under the supervision of the judicial body of this country.
Critics assessed this bill as “authoritarian” and “an attempt to suppress the media and any opposition to the government.” The controversial bill, dubbed “Russia’s law” by critics because of its similarities to Russian laws allegedly used to suppress civil society there, was unexpectedly sent to the floor after being previously announced for Thursday.
Now this question comes to mind, why the Westerners openly supported the protesters and tried to communicate this bill to Russia?
Badid searched for the answer to this question in the issue of Georgia’s accession to the European Union. According to the protestors, this bill shows the country’s move towards authoritarianism and reduces the hope of its membership in the European Union.
The concern of the postponement of membership in the European Union was also evident in the positions of Georgian and Western officials. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, while opposing the bill, believes that this law and restricting the freedom of the press will harm Georgia’s chances to join the European Union.
At the same time, “Joseph Borrell” responsible for the foreign policy of the European Union, has also considered this bill to be in conflict with what he called the values of the European Union. He added: The European Union wants Georgia to adhere to its commitment to promote democracy, rule of law, and human rights and to respect people’s right to peaceful protest.
The issue of Georgia’s accession to the European Union was also evident in the words of “Robert Haubeck”, the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Germany. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the “IBT” exhibition in Berlin and next to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, he said: “The arms of Europe are open to you and I know that your country is very much oriented towards Europe, therefore, I would like to attend.” You are very welcome.
The crisis in Ukraine and repeated promises of annexation
Many European actors, happy with the promises of the leaders of Brussels, have been waiting for years behind the doors of the union. Georgia, which is located in the Caucasus region and in the southwest of Russia, applied for membership in the European Union on March 3 last year, a week after the start of Russia’s special military operations in Ukraine.
The European Union, however, rejected Georgia’s request for membership in this union, along with Moldova and Ukraine, and made the acceptance of Georgia’s request conditional on political and judicial reforms. Since then, the Council of Europe has announced that it is ready to grant the country a candidate status as soon as the economic and political reforms desired by this union are realized in the structure of the Georgian government.
In July last year, Georgia announced that it will comply with the twelve conditions announced by the European Union for granting Georgia candidate status, including the fight against oligarchs, the end of political bipolarity in this country, progress in media freedom, economic and political, judicial reforms, etc.
The traces of the Ukraine crisis are clearly visible in the course of the recent events in Georgia, and the West has always tried to put pressure on the Kremlin by taking advantage of the said crisis, and fueling the old tensions and disputes between Georgia and Russia is one of these tools.
In August 2008, Georgia seized its capital, Tskhinvali, with a military attack on South Ossetia; An event that the Kremlin did not expect and was met with a quick, lightning, and strong response from Russia. With a heavy air and ground attack on this region, Russia pushed back the Georgian forces and destroyed all the economic, military, port and air transport infrastructures. After signing an agreement with the mediation of the European Union and strengthening its presence in the region, Russia withdrew and recognized the independence of these regions.
Despite all these tensions, despite the insistence of the West and the interventions of the European and American embassies, Georgia refused to join them in sanctioning Russia. In the middle of April this year, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili emphasized that this country will not impose any sanctions against Russia.
Result
From the observers’ point of view, Georgia’s caution against confronting Russia again has created a platform for not accompanying Ukraine’s allies, while Tbilisi authorities cannot count on the promises of Brussels leaders to join NATO and the European Union.
Georgian officials have seen the costly experience of Ukraine’s accession to NATO and the Union, when the leaders of Kyiv were happy to join the battle with Russia, but the West refused to officially accept Ukraine into the European Union and NATO. There was no doubt that accepting Ukraine’s membership would bring them into direct war, so keeping Ukraine on the back burner was the best option.
However, the Ukraine crisis, by advancing the Russophobia project, opened its arms to countries far from the battlefield, including Finland and Sweden as two Scandinavian countries.
In connection with Georgia, the West has used all its power to distance Tbilisi and Moscow. They evaluated the recent bill against Georgia’s integration into the European Union and NATO and stood up to support the protesters; Protesters who believe that the approval of the bill will damage the prospects of Georgia’s membership in the European Union.
Now, although the protesters got their wish and the ruling party withdrew the controversial bill from the parliament, we have to wait and see how long the game of NATO and the Union with Georgia will continue. Will Tbilisi join these two alliances in the near future or will it suffer the same fate as Turkey or Ukraine in the political chessboard of the region? The first case has been standing in line to join the union for nearly two decades, and the second case has sunk into a deep quagmire with the promise of joining the union and NATO.
