Putin is now breathing down Georgia’s neck – The startling election result increases uncertainty

The just concluded elections in Georgia were perhaps the most important for the country since the 1991 referendum, when the country voted for independence from Moscow.

Although Georgia officially gained independence at that time, in reality the Kremlin has never let go of the country from its grip.

After independence, border disputes, political interference and threats of occupation began.

This Sunday, Moscow achieved another victory in Georgia when Georgian dream – a party led by the richest and most influential figure in Georgia, an oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili announced that he had won the election with 54 percent of the vote. The coalition of four pro-Western opposition parties got about 37.5 percent of the votes.

Although Ivanishvili celebrated his victory in the capital Tbilisi in a spectacular fashion, according to election observers, the election was marred by fraud and violence.

The victory was a shock for the Georgian. Tens of thousands have been protesting against neighboring Russia for months.

The country’s opposition did not accept the result, instead calling on citizens to take to the streets.

Will the EU dreams be crushed?

The Georgian Dream party opposes the EU and democracy and, according to its own claims, does not directly pursue the Kremlin’s policy. But the connections are clear, because the party now wants to strengthen its relations with Russia.

Just a year ago, people in Georgia were full of optimism. They talked about EU and NATO membership and the rise of the economy. Western alliances represented stability and a certain kind of permanence to people.

The election result is now leading to political uncertainty as opposition parties and NGOs come together to oppose the threat to Georgia’s democracy. The ranks of opponents are getting closer, and they can create significant resistance to the newly elected government.

The ongoing protests are likely to continue and are feared to turn violent.

Sanctions in place?

Western countries are closely monitoring the situation and may consider sanctions, diplomatic pressure or other means if the Georgian government continues to ignore democratic norms and become more closely connected to Russia.

Relations with the EU may now weaken, as the EU has announced that the voting result will decide the country’s membership. Georgia has been in line since last year.

According to estimates, pro-Russian politics can also lead to changes within the country. Favoring oligarchic power can reduce transparency, increase corruption and weaken the economic and social reforms needed in the country.

If the government resorts to tougher measures, the Western community will withdraw its support from the country.

On the other hand, Georgians feel that they are left alone with the Russians. Hundreds of thousands of Russians have moved to the country since the war of aggression in Ukraine, and many fear that the Russian community is pursuing a policy of quiet Russification.

Russia is unlikely to start occupying Georgia. But quiet progress in both the political and ideological sense is of course the president Vladimir Putinto my mind. Russia currently needs the support of all its neighbors.

Georgia is now at a crossroads. The choice it makes will have a long-lasting effect both within the country and its relations with neighboring countries and the wider international community.

The government’s ability to unite is now in a decisive position and the coming weeks will be critical in terms of preventing the spread of violence.