(MENAFN- AzerNews)
![So-Called <a target="_blank" href="https://menafn.com/MenaGoogleSearch.aspx?cx=partner-pub-1786942026589567%3Asao396-3ere&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=elections&sa=Search#1141" class ="search_links_in_body">elections</a> In Georgia](https://menafn.com/updates/pr/2024-06/10/A_0a878cf4-3_Image_In_Body.jpg)
Fatime Letifova
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Due to its geographical location, the South Caucasus has been
the target of great empires for many years. Being the segment of
the Great Silk Road, this region with the richness of its oil
fields particularly on the east side along the Caspian Sea has been
very lucrative for power states.
The Russian Empire was one of those invading the countries and
permeating this region. Starting from the 18th century, Tsarist
Russia began exploring and occupying the regions around the Caspian
Sea. At the beginning of the 19th century, it captured the South
Caucasus, including Azerbaijan, and took away the freedom of the
nations.
Before the establishment of the Soviet Union, Tsarist Russia
pursued a policy of Russification in the South Caucasus, taking
away the language, culture, and religion of the nations here.
Especially the people of Azerbaijan and Georgia suffered from its
policy of occupation.
Even after the establishment of the Soviet Union, the same
policy was continued under the name of communism; repressions were
carried out and the lives of many intellectuals of the South
Caucasus were ended.
Although Russia's relations with Azerbaijan softened following
Azerbaijan's victory over the Armenian occupation in 2020, the
relations between Georgia and Russia are yet to be normalised.
Thus, when the Soviet Union was about to collapse, Georgia was one
of the post-soviet states that made the most efforts to get rid of
Russian occupation, which later cost Tbilisi its territory in the
north of the country bordering with Russia.
Both Zviad Gamsakhurdia and Eduard Shevardnadze had a number of
problems in Georgian-Russian diplomatic relations. During the term
of President Mikheil Saakashvili, the tension between the two
countries reached its peak. Although Saakashvili's policy towards
the West tried to free the country from Russian influence, the
result ended with the Russian occupation of Abkhazia and Southern
Ossetia.
In 2012, with the coming to power of the Georgian Dream Party
founded by Bidzina Ivanishvili, Russia-Georgia relations softened
and became relatively constructive. Since the mentioned time,
serious developments have been observed in many spheres,
particularly in the field of economy.
The law on "foreign agents", which came into force this month,
caused dissatisfaction among the country's population, but it was
enough to show Russia's influence in the country. It should be
noted that this law serves the purpose of ensuring the transparency
of foreign funding of the non-governmental sector and the media in
Georgia.
The West was very worried about this situation because the law's
entry into force would reduce the influence of foreign countries in
Georgia.
Thus, thirty-one members of the European Parliament (EP) call on
the Vice-President of the European Commission and head of EU
diplomacy, Josep Borrell, to suspend Georgia's status as a
candidate for accession to the EU. Even US Secretary of State
Antony Blinken called the decision adopted by the Georgian
parliament a "Russian law". He also said that the new law will
create problems in the relations of the Georgian people with the
European Union, and noted that the United States will not leave it
unanswered.
Official Moscow supported the decision of the Georgian
government in response to threats from the West and claimed that
the United States was fueling the protests in the country.
But what is reality?
It is no secret that Europe has been using the countries under
Russian occupation to suppress Moscow in the region for years. And
Russia does not hesitate to commit genocide and create disaster in
those countries in order to respond to the West. This is proven by
the fact that the Georgian scenario is currently being applied in
Ukraine, that the West is encouraging Ukraine to go to war with
Russia by making empty promises, and that Russia has also dealt a
devastating blow to Ukraine, even killing its nation - the
Slavs.
Georgia, whose territory is still under Russian occupation, is
subjected to the brutal treatment of the Kremlin whenever Tbilisi
reduces the Kremlin's influence in the country and moves towards
the West. This is the same as the opposite - thus, when the
Georgian government improves relations with Moscow, it receives
threats from the West.
So-called parliamentary elections were held yesterday in the
Tskhinvali region (Southern Ossetia) under Russian occupation.
Azerbaijan, whose 20 percent of territories was once under Armenian
occupation for nearly 30 years, also condemned this event and
called the election void.
It should be noted that a war broke out between Russia and
Georgia over Southern Ossetia in 2008, and after the war, Abkhazia
and Southern Ossetia declared their independence with the support
of Russia. It was after that that diplomatic relations between
Georgia and Russia were severed.
The events that have taken place show that countries like
Georgia, Ukraine, and even Armenia are used as battlegrounds for
the West in its long-time hostility toward Russia. Undoubtedly,
civilians and inhabitants of the South Caucasus suffer the most
from the intense war between the two hegemon powers - the West and
Russia.
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