"The West has nothing to do with the protests in Georgia" Ex-minister Gia Nodia talks to Caliber.Az

Caliber.Az had an interview with Gia Nodia, ex-Minister of Education and Science of Georgia and Director of the Caucasus Institute of Peace, Democracy, and Development.

- Mr. Nodia, as far as it is known the reason for the current protests in Georgia was the consideration by the Parliament of Georgia of the bill on foreign agents. Why do you think this document has appeared now and how would you interpret it?

- This draft law was essentially an analogue of the Russian one, and in terms of its political meaning, it can be interpreted as the beginning of an open struggle against civil society in Georgia or as a de facto rejection of the European integration policy. This is how it was perceived by the vast majority of Georgian society, which, in fact, led to mass protests. And even despite the fact that the Parliament of Georgia has withdrawn the bill, there is hardly any credibility left in Georgian society towards the Georgian Dream party. The public still believes that the country's government must change, so there is no firm certainty that the protests will not happen again.

- So you admit the likelihood of a change of power in Georgia?

- Such processes are difficult to predict, although many people in Georgia hope that it could happen in 2024, and a certain part of society even believes that early elections are necessary. Nevertheless, it has now become obvious that the government has nevertheless made concessions to civil society, although this was a forced measure.

- Is it possible to assume that the street actions were provoked from outside? What forces might have stimulated them?

- I don't think that there were any outside organisers of the protests. In my view, not only were there no outside forces behind the actions, but even the opposition. These were purely spontaneous actions in which young people, mostly students, played a leading role.

The theory that the US and the West are seeking a "colour revolution" in Georgia is held by Bidzina Ivanishvili's government. It is against this backdrop that he sought to push through a new law, but failed to do so. The systematic warming of relations with Russia in one way or another causes discontent among the Georgian society, and the draft law on foreign agents was actually an indicator of this rapprochement. But, as we can see, at this stage the protests forced the government to retreat from its idea.

- And have they shown that Georgian society is all in favour of Western integration?

- Yes, beyond any doubt. This is the aspiration of the vast majority of Georgian society. The problem is that there is still no sufficiently strong and organized opposition to realize it.

- And what about Moscow - do you think it will not interfere with the choice of the Georgian people?

- I think this depends on many factors. In particular, on the outcome of the war that is now taking place in Ukraine.

- So, the risk of intervention by Russia remains in Georgia?

- In principle, there is such a risk, and it will persist as long as Russia considers itself the dominant force in the post-Soviet space. As long as there is such a mood, danger from Russia with regard to Georgia will remain. But at the moment Russia is fully engaged in the war in Ukraine, and therefore the risk with respect to Georgia is low.

- As far as Ukraine is concerned, do you have your own forecast for the outcome of the confrontation?

- It seems to me, the Russian Federation will not be able to achieve its goals, but it is difficult to predict specific results.

- And lastly. There is information that the protests in Georgia kicked off the mass exodus from the country. Is it true?

- Russians that came here indeed started to leave due to the protests. As to Georgians, they periodically start leaving the country, because they cannot see any future at home. But these days we have not seen Georgians leaving the country because of the protests.