a Georgian journalist Giorgi Gabunia, is known for the fact that a year ago in the air obscenely cursed the President of Russia, did it again: the air rudely berated the President of Russia, and at the same time the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov. “MK” asked the experts whether the boorish antics to affect Russian-Georgian relations. Seriously can’t believe they are – because of relationships and so worse than ever.
Going from Georgian to Russian language, Mr. Gabunia broadcast opposition TV channel Mtavari Arkhi explained: a year ago, when he first cursed Vladimir Putin, he just used his only weapon is a word. And now he uses the weapons again. The reason for the speech, apparently, was not officially confirmed information about the fact that the person arrested recently in Georgia for violating the passport regime, the Russians actually were sent from Russia to Mr. Gabunia to kill, and sent him though the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov. Mr. Gabunia no doubt that this version is true.
How this story will affect the very complex bilateral relationship?
Vladimir ZHARIKHIN, political scientist, Deputy Director of the Institute of CIS countries:
“Georgian-Russian relations already are now frozen. Yes, to a certain extent economic relations are restored, we sell Georgia “Borjomi”, well, as long as the coronavirus have not stopped this thing, tourism developed – the Russians in Georgia went, although direct flights are canceled. But no political relations, no diplomatic interrupted at the initiative of the Georgian side, Georgia officially withdrew from the CIS. And if someone is swearing – it says only about the level of his education, nothing more. Too much honor it would be to ban popular in Russia drink because of one of ham.”
Leonid KALASHNIKOV, head of the Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian integration and relations with compatriots, the Communist party:
“Everyone who wants to sell themselves dearly, just shout: I want to kill! And the first one in these cases, accused – Putin and Kadyrov. This is used as a bogey to swing, but it’s not working. They themselves have enough problems, from their American patrons.
If you want to, to each such filth Russia reacted, then they achieved their goals: we are angry, and they say – “see we have them stepped on the tail, see how they”… it is Clear that there are things by which we can not pass – when monuments are being destroyed, for example. And Gabunia – who needs it?”
Nikolai SILAEV, senior research associate of the Center for Caucasus and regional security at the Institute for international studies, MGIMO:
“I think it is appropriate now to repeat what I said a year ago when I was first out on the stage George HaBunia, although it should be noted that the effect of each following his release weakened. And I said the following. Just imagine yourself in the place of a citizen of Georgia, or Georgian policy, and you have any claims to Russia, or even large historical grievances, which, Russian is impossible to deal with. And when you offer, say, explain, in what an essence of claims, to the forefront of Giorgi Gabunia and says what he says. After that, your talk about the profound trauma and unprecedented historical injustice will be someone to take seriously? Gabunia devalued Georgian claims against Russia and the Georgian criticism of Russian foreign policy as it could not do nothing. And this is the main result of his performances for Georgia.
a Year ago, Russian authorities reacted reasonably. This is not the case, not the person, and not the content of that right as something seriously to respond. But relations between the two countries now are in a frozen-bad condition. At some point all politicians of Georgia, with rare exceptions like Nino Burjanadze, began to exploit anti-Russian or anti-Russian rhetoric on the brink or over the brink of hysteria, and have told so many words to each other, which is very inconvenient for themselves to take back. Abroad, I think, was the campaign for the presidential election in 2018. Now the political atmosphere in Georgia is that any dialogue with the Russian all instantly calls the betrayal, and these feelings do not allow anything to be done in the bilateral relations. Although a lot of statements that were heard from Russia in the last before the beginning of the epidemic months suggests that Russia is for the normalization of relations is ready, no obstacles are not here.”
