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The West and Georgia are having trouble establishing dialogue
A week and a half before the parliamentary elections in Georgia, the West continues to send clear signals to Tbilisi. The restoration of former friendly relations will be possible only in the event of a change in power in the republic. Another manifestation of this policy was London's decision to freeze the so-called "Wardrop Dialogue" with Georgia, a form of ministerial political consultations created ten years ago, to cancel defense talks and to suspend cooperation in the field of cybersecurity. Brussels threatens Georgia with new sanctions and the loss of a visa-free regime with the EU. Tbilisi regards all this as gross interference in the country's internal affairs on the eve of the elections. Meanwhile, Russia recently relaxed the visa regime for Georgian citizens, expressing its goodwill to the current Georgian government.
The British government's decision was announced on Tuesday by British Ambassador to Georgia Garrett Ward in an interview with the InterpressNews news agency. Firstly, the Wardrop Talks (named after John Wardrop, who translated Shota Rustaveli's poem "The Knight in the Panther's Skin", and his sister Marjorie, ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Georgia in 1918-1921) have been frozen. This format of ministerial political consultations has been in place for 10 years. Secondly, high-level military talks between the two countries have been cancelled. Thirdly, the cybersecurity cooperation programme has been terminated.
The British diplomat thus made it clear that Britain sympathizes with the EU and US position on the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party's "undemocratic trajectory", especially with regard to the adoption of laws against foreign agents. The issue is the protection of "family values".
In the same context, the Georgian leadership’s repeated statements that the West seeks to “open a second front against Russia in the Caucasus” were noted. “We were concerned when Congress passed a law restricting civil society. We were disappointed when Georgian Dream leaders began spreading conspiracy theories and suggesting that Western partners were undermining Georgia,” Garrett Ward said.
He added that he was "shocked" by billionaire Bizina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of Georgian Dream, who promised to ban Georgia's main opposition party, the UN National Movement (UNM) led by Mikheil Saakashvili, immediately after the October 26 elections.
GM leaders responded by accusing London of trying to influence the will of its citizens.
"Why did they remember the Wardrop format a few days before the elections? "This is gross interference in internal affairs and elections!" - Representative Archil Gorduladze expressed the reaction of the country's top leadership at a briefing.
Meanwhile, another MP, Irakli Kirtskhalia, commented in the same spirit on even harsher statements by the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell. "The ruling party, its recent actions, statements and election promises are taking the country (Georgia-Commersand) away from the European path and towards authoritarianism," said Mr. Borrell. Commenting on this statement, the European official Irakli Kirtskhalia said: "He has joined the lobbyists of Saakashvili's party."
On Tuesday, anonymous sources in Brussels told reporters that EU leaders plan to discuss further steps on Georgia at a summit on October 17-18.
Earlier, Josep Borrell and other European leaders made it clear that Georgian citizens could lose their visa-free travel to the Schengen country if Bidzina Ivanishvili’s party remains in power after the election results. And this does not only apply to people wishing to visit the EU for tourism purposes. According to a Georgian NGO, since the introduction of visa-free travel in spring 2017, 250,000 Georgians (8% of the working-age population) have found work in the EU, although initially as tourists.
A decision to end the visa-free regime, if ultimately adopted, would be a continuation of a series of steps already taken by Western countries. Accordingly, the United States has previously suspended financial aid to Georgia, cancelled military exercises held since 2016, and imposed visa and financial restrictions on dozens of Georgian officials, MPs, judges and security officials.
And in September last year, US President Joe Biden rescinded an invitation to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kovachidze to the annual reception for heads of delegations participating in the UN General Assembly.
The US Ambassador to Tbilisi, Robin Dunnigan, explained Prime Minister Kobakhidze's words in Washington that the US was approaching a "red line" by saying that "they perceive this as a threat." (Minister of Internal Affairs Zviad Kharazishvili and his deputy Miler Lagazauri).
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of Tuesday's events: "We see a clear attempt by Western countries to put pressure on the current Georgian authorities and exert direct and open influence on the election campaign process." And he added: Unlike the West, Russia does not interfere in Georgia's internal affairs.
Meanwhile, amid growing pressure from the West, Moscow recently offered a “carrot” in the form of easing visa requirements for Georgian citizens.
On October 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree expanding the visa-free regime for Georgian citizens. The regime now applies to Georgians "entering the Russian Federation for a temporary stay in the Russian Federation for a period exceeding 90 days, including for the purpose of employment or education."
On the evening of October 26, it will become clear how all these multilateral measures taken by the West and Russia will affect the mood of citizens. All public opinion polls at the moment show that Mikheil Saakashvili's UNM is ahead of General Manager Bidzina Ivanishvili, as well as three other opposition groups. But sociologists note that the share of people who have not decided or do not want to reveal their preferences is too high (only 25-30%). It is these people who ultimately decide the outcome of the elections.