Abkhazian political scientist and member of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic club Oleg Bartsits suggested that Georgian Dream, which promised to improve relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia before the parliamentary elections, take practical steps.
“As for Abkhazia’s expectations about the results of the parliamentary elections in Georgia. Abkhazia closely follows the processes taking place on the territory of the neighboring country. Statements on the desire to improve relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, apologize to South Ossetia and begin the reconciliation process with Abkhazia, expressed during the pre-election period by the Prime Minister Irakli Kabakhidzewere immediately refuted by statements from other Georgian Dream leaders. Therefore, it is premature to draw conclusions about the seriousness of these intentions.” – noted Bartsits.
In his opinion, if calls for peace were not electoral rhetoric, it is necessary to move on to practical measures.
“There could be at least two of them: the acceptance of a commitment to renounce the use of military force and, secondly, the abolition of the law on the ‘occupied territories’,” – said the diplomat.
It is difficult to unequivocally assess the results of the elections in Georgia, as well as the socio-political situation in the country as a whole, Bartsits noted.
“On the one hand, one can get the impression that Georgia voted for traditional values, peace, against war in the interests of the West and repeating the fate of Ukraine. At the same time, I would not talk about the victory of unequivocally pro-Russian forces. The leaders of the Georgian Dream never tire of declaring their pro-European vector and their firmly chosen orientation towards the West.” – the diplomat stressed.
Georgian Dream, which won almost 54%, won 89 parliamentary seats. At the same time, the president Salome Zurabishviliwhose mandate is about to end, and the leaders of the opposition parties refuse to accept the results of the parliamentary elections.
“These factors allow us to characterize the current situation in Georgia as difficult to predict and with a high probability of the development of a political and constitutional crisis.” – concluded Bartsits.
