War in Ukraine, Georgia will end only when Russia is gone — political scientist Vasadze

He expressed this opinion on Espreso TV.

"There are many more people on the streets now than there were yesterday. No matter what anyone says, the source of power in any country is the people, even when the government is totalitarian, if the people do not support the government, it will not be able to hold on, and everyone knows this very well. If this government behaves accordingly, it may not last until the elections, although everyone in Georgia is now saying that no one wants a revolutionary scenario and no one wants violence.

Because Russia will definitely take advantage of violence, it can arrange provocations, but I will say that as a result of the flow of migrants, many Russian special services have entered the country and this can also create another situation in Georgia, the government must understand this, and society already understands this," the political scientist explains.

Vasadze emphasized that the people of Georgia are being intimidated after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"The authorities have created a very interesting scheme that we are 'for Ukraine, we support it', but no one wants Batumi to turn into Mariupol, and indeed, no one wants that. But, you know, they were so intimidating that people are tired of being afraid: what will happen, what to do, we cannot give up all our positions, we cannot give up the future of our children, because we are afraid of it, first of all. And secondly, I'm sure of one thing, that Ukraine is a big country, yes, it has operational depth and could be better prepared for a war with Russia, but on the other hand, as we've said before, if you flatten Georgia, remove the mountains, it's not a small country either, so if something like that happens, welcome to our mountains and what awaits you there. The Russians are counting on Georgians being scared and surrendering, and we have already seen what happens when they are not scared and do not surrender," the political scientist explained.

According to him, Russia wants to create its own geopolitical orbit, create chaos, destabilize the situation in Georgia, as this will create a land route to Asia and Europe. Amid the war in the Middle East, Russia may find itself in a stronger negotiating position thanks to Georgia to demand that its interests be unblocked.

"What we have seen in Ukraine, we have already seen in Georgia in 1991, 1993, 2006, 2008 — that is, it goes in circles, but this only means that the war in Ukraine and in Georgia will end only when Russia ceases to exist, that's it, this is the only conclusion and there are no others," Vasadze concluded.

Law on "foreign agents" in Georgia

On April 9, thousands of people took part in a rally in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi against the law on "foreign agents", which the ruling Georgian Dream party registered in parliament for the second time.

Already on April 16, the Georgian parliament postponed consideration of the law due to the protests. 

On Wednesday, April 17, the Georgian parliament approved in the first reading the law on "foreign agents", which was protested by thousands of citizens. President Salome Zurabishvili said she would veto the law.