Forceful Russian Diplomacy vs. Georgia’s Nonrecognition Policy

Op-ed

Russia, as powerful as she is in general and extremely annoyed by Georgia’s western orientation, is doing her utmost to bring this tattered little nation to its knees, thus punishing it for longstanding disobedience. But Georgia is valiantly defying Russia’s unconcealed hostility and her unrestrained brutality. Russia, on her part, hates free and independent Georgia and craves it back into postmodern social, political and economic slavery.

Georgia is a free land, liberated from the monstrous idea of communism and the gruesome dominance of Russia, but its current contentment is marred with its lost territories. On those territories two weird and unlawful geopolitical formations have taken shape with immediate Russian assistance against the will and wish of the Georgian people and its numerous democratically elected administrations in the last couple of decades. To the greatest chagrin of the Georgian people, Russia has numerous levers for taming their motherland, including the worldwide clout and money that either bribes certain decision-makers or deliberately forces other nations into the recognition of Georgia’s lost territories as sovereign states. Ludicrous because the nations that have recognized those parts of Georgia as independent states were hardly recognized by the international community themselves, so the damage was nominal.

Then came Syria to the diplomatic podium, having decided to follow in the footsteps of those minor Russian serfs. Comments of differing content are made to this deplorable extent: some say the Syrian recognition has not enough political weight and diplomatic value to hurt Georgia’s geopolitical stand, but others emphasize that the recent Syrian sneaky cunning against Georgia might very well play a detrimental role in the future of this nation. Nobody on earth would have expected a political hoax of this content and magnitude against Georgia, especially in the wake of celebrating the centenary of Georgia’s independence. What a wicked Russian gift for the jubilee, presented by Syrians to Georgians! The scrawl is purely Russian, no doubt! We all know that! But, on the other hand, we should have known a little better, too. The impression is that we waxed overly euphoric in our nonrecognition policy against the background of the western benevolence and their words of praise in our address. Our western friends’ laudations are very complimentary and truly pleasant to hear but it seems the Russians have been working hard to watch Georgia swallow its humble pie. The Russians got a serious country like Syria – although at war with the West – to sign a document that completely kills the joy of jubilations in Georgia. Moreover, we hear comments from Russians that this is just a beginning of it – the worst is still to come. This might mean that Russians are thinking of another vicious ruse against Georgia. I would not be surprised if they really are because Russia cannot enjoy a free, independent and successful Georgia. For complete happiness, she needs to see Georgia bending before the Russian glory and greatness, circulating hat in hand on the same miserable soviet orbit, and waiting for alms when the wind blows our way if it does at all.

What can the embittered Georgians do in cases like this? We might go ahead and sever diplomatic relations with Syria; use harsh, although politically correct and diplomatically balanced vocabulary to describe Russians as the egregious violators of international law; continue looking wistfully into those beautiful western eyes; see the current Georgian government and its opposition vehemently vilifying each other in the worst vituperative manner, and all of us watching the resulting political talk shows on TV. Who is Georgia’s friend after all? Who could say the final authoritative word in our favor? Is it Europe? Is it America? Maybe. But what is the extent to which they want to go in our defense against the strong Russian will and devastating weapons that are potentially usable if need be for them? And who is our enemy? Is it Russia and her anti-Georgian satellites? Perhaps. But what is the extent of their restraint when it comes to Georgia’s love and infatuation with the West? Those are the questions we need to answer when we get so painfully hurt in a sense called geopolitical.

By Nugzar B. Ruhadze