Georgia has become particularly popular on YouTube, especially in the context of the ongoing events in Syria. According to many experts, these two countries now want to get rid of Russian influence. It is also evident that Russia, despite the billions invested in Syria, is unable to protect its interests there.
What is happening in Georgia? The independent press, especially the Ukrainian media, unanimously declares that Georgia is unequivocally fighting against Russia. Looking at what is happening on Rustaveli, many people recall Euromaidan, Belarus, and even Kremlin propaganda. For example, in the Georgian government's phrases "Nazmaidan", "manipulation of children" they see the Kremlin's handwriting, not to mention the laws against agents and LGBT propaganda.
The Kremlin's, or rather, Russian riot police's, signature is evident in the merciless crackdown and torture of protesters. Journalists say that it may be revealed in the future that Russian forces, or at least Russian inspectors, were involved in dispersing the protests in Georgia. They did the same in Minsk when people came out against President Lukashenko.
Ukrainian media outlet FREEDOM quotes a statement published on the website of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
"The Georgian government should stop intimidating the people with the mythical Ukrainian scenario, while implementing the Belarusian scenario. Ukraine wanted and still wants democracy to develop in Georgia, to integrate into the European Union and NATO, which is also the demand of the Georgian people."
What part of the population supports European integration? Alexandra Dines, a representative of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Vienna, told DW's Russian-language service that the Georgian Dream has many sincere supporters.
“We conducted a public opinion survey in Georgia a month before the election. We asked the people [who wanted to join the EU – R.T.], and there is such a large majority, why they wanted it. Most of them said that it was because of the higher standard of living and also because they would be more protected from Russia… I think this survey shows well that it is not just about values.
Georgian society, especially those who don't live in big cities, is conservative, deeply religious. They don't care much about LGBT and progressive rights... The fact is that many support this conservative agenda."
Just like in the Georgian media, the Russian-language media often mention December 14, when a new president is to be elected in Georgia. The incumbent President Salome Zurabishvili does not intend to leave her residence. No one knows how events will develop. Much also depends on whether sanctions will be imposed by the United States and Europe by that time. Some experts say that it is of great importance whose side public officials will take in the expected bicameralism.
"Salome Zurabishvili has become the leader, and the main question now is whether officials will resign in protest against the repression," German expert Stefan Meister told DW. According to him, Bidzina Ivanishvili and the Georgian Dream want to receive dividends from both Russia and the European Union.
The Ukrainian media has repeatedly discussed what Georgians fighting in Ukraine will do. The head of the Georgian Legion, Mamuka Mamulashvili, says that Georgia has a very bad experience of civil war. Therefore, he is in favor of peaceful changes. Now he must fight in Ukraine, because the victory of Ukraine is a prerequisite for the victory of Georgia.
"The Georgian government should have a conscience and protect itself," he said on UNIAN.
Journalist Kirill Nabutov said on the Ukrainian TV channel Bild that Georgia is now a very important territory for Putin, because Armenia and Azerbaijan no longer obey him. Putin is trying to take control of Georgia through oligarch Ivanishvili.
In the Belarusian propaganda media, the Georgian demonstrators are cursed with the last words and called on the Georgian government to destroy them. “Can you imagine, respirators were sold in construction materials stores, will you find them in Minsk? That's what they were preparing,” says the Belarusian presenter, whose words are mocked by Ukrainian journalist Zhan Novoseltsev: “Can you imagine, it turns out that respirators were sold in construction stores in Georgia”… and adds that you can also find a hammer and a shovel in Minsk stores and they are probably preparing a coup there too. Zhan Novoseltsev says that such a strong reaction of Belarusian journalists to the Georgian demonstrators indicates that Lukashenko is very afraid that the same thing will happen again in his country.
Protests in Tbilisi and other cities in Georgia began on November 28 after the Georgian Dream government decided not to put the issue of opening negotiations on Georgia's membership in the European Union on the agenda until the end of 2028 and to refuse EU budget grants. At the same time, the Georgian Dream government claims that the goal remains for Georgia to join the EU by 2030.
