Rossotrudnichestvo's role in supporting separatism in Georgia An Armenian connection

The head of "Rossotrudnichestvo," Yevgeny Primakov, was recently "outraged" in a post on the Telegram social network by the fact that journalists from BakuTv described his organization as effectively a "den of separatists" and threatened them with legal action. However, the fact that "Rossotrudnichestvo" consistently supports separatism and the redrawing of borders is, in my opinion, not some fabrication by journalists. These are facts that cannot be ignored if one analyzes the policy of "Rossotrudnichestvo."

It has long been evident that, due to the activities of organizations like "Rossotrudnichestvo," Russia has essentially failed to achieve its strategic goals of maintaining influence over the post-Soviet space. The war in southeastern Ukraine has been ongoing for 11 years now. Yet, just 20 years ago, these territories were under the unquestionable cultural influence of Russia, and the population there largely spoke Russian without the need for any "cultural events" by "Rossotrudnichestvo."

In Georgia, "Rossotrudnichestvo" not only supports separatist regimes in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, which have carried out ethnic cleansing of the Georgian population, but it has also placed its bet on "time-tested" servants of the Armenian lobby within Georgia itself. These individuals, through their provocations, do everything to harm the friendly relations between Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye. One such controversial figure particularly favoured by "Rossotrudnichestvo" is Nikoloz Mzhavanadze, the chairman of the so-called "Union of Human Rights Defenders" of Georgia, a lawyer and director of the television company "Sezoni."

Mzhavanadze was, at one time, one of the main provocateurs who artificially created the "problem" of the David Gareji Monastery (Keshikchidagh). To recall, 95% of this monastic complex is located in Georgia, while 5% is in Azerbaijan. For a long time, Azerbaijan allowed Georgian priests and pilgrims to cross the state border and enter its territory without any problems. This continued until provocateurs like Mzhavanadze emerged, organizing rallies and accusing Azerbaijan of "occupation."

Because of individuals like Mzhavanadze, provocations began at the border. Even the President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, who defends French geopolitical interests, joined in. She visited the border and illegally crossed the Georgian-Azerbaijani border. There were attempts to use force against Azerbaijani border guards and efforts to seize their weapons. As a result, Mzhavanadze and the Armenian lobby behind him achieved their goal – the Azerbaijani side had no choice but to limit access to its territory near the David Gareji Monastery (Keshikchidagh) from the Georgian side to avoid further provocations.

The way Mzhavanadze "cares" about Georgian Orthodox Christian holy sites is eloquently demonstrated in a video segment from his own show, where he invited a priest of the Georgian Orthodox Church. The priest directly stated the need to address the issue of Armenia's appropriation of dozens of Georgian churches and monasteries in the northern part of the current Republic of Armenia, in the historic Georgian land of Lori. At this point, Mzhavanadze unexpectedly "stumbled" – he dared not speak out against his "masters."

At the same time, Mzhavanadze advocates for Georgia's recognition of the mythical "Armenian genocide," fully aware that this would damage Georgian-Turkish relations. A significant portion of Mzhavanadze's statements and actions, even those related to "Georgian-Russian friendship," also has a distinctly anti-Turkish context.

In 2023, Mzhavanadze called for the commemoration of Russian soldiers who died for Adjara in the fight against the Ottoman Empire. However, if we are to speak the full historical truth, it must be acknowledged that the majority of Georgian Muslims in Adjara during the 1877-78 war sided with the Ottoman Empire and fought for it. Many of them chose to leave their homeland and resettle in the territory of the Ottoman Empire after Adjara became part of the Russian Empire. Logically, if we are to commemorate the Russian soldiers who fought against the Ottoman Empire, we should also commemorate those who fought for that empire, particularly the Georgian Muslims. In any case, Türkiye itself has commemorated not only its soldiers who fought during World War I at Gallipoli, but also their adversaries.

Moreover, with the onset of World War I in 1914, a pro-Ottoman uprising broke out in Adjara, which was brutally suppressed by Russian troops and Dashnak executioners, destroying dozens of Adjara villages and killing tens of thousands of civilians. However, naturally, Nikolaz Mzhavanadze doesn't even hint at commemorating the Georgian Muslims of Adjara who became victims of the Dashnak terror. Mzhavanadze consciously omits this complex historical truth, while provocatively inflating hysteria regarding the alleged "Turkish expansion in Adjara."

This provocateur, Mzhavanadze, who actively works with the methods of the Armenian lobby against Georgia's interests, specifically its friendship and cooperation with Türkiye and Azerbaijan, is today "the main partner" of "Rossotrudnichestvo" in Georgia. In December of the previous year, Nikoloz Mzhavanadze participated in the award ceremony for the winners of the international prize "Honest View 2024" in Moscow as an honorary guest. The award was organized by none other than "Rossotrudnichestvo," and during the event, Mzhavanadze had a meeting with its head, Yevgeny Primakov.

"Georgia's cooperation with 'Rossotrudnichestvo' will bring a lot to our country. I don't understand why Georgia should remain on the sidelines of these processes. I have repeatedly said and continue to repeat: the question of the economic, social, and political well-being of our country is decided in Moscow," Mzhavanadze stated at the time. Naturally, he made no mention whatsoever of the fact that "Rossotrudnichestvo" supports separatism and the occupation of Georgian territories in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, cultivates anti-Georgian sentiment there, and does everything possible to hinder the return of Georgian refugees to their homes, many of which are now occupied by Armenians, who Nikoloz Mzhavanadze holds in high regard.

Vladimir Tskhvediani, Georgia, for Caliber.Az