R ussian-Ukrainian war raised problems both in the Georgian-Ukrainian strategic relations and in Georgia’s domestic political life. Georgia’s official response and the ensuing public discontent keep the relations between the two countries tense.  

Nevertheless, in the context of growing criticism, Georgia tops the list of the countries providing a humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Georgia provides a state support to 28,000 citizens displaced from Ukraine and resettled in Georgia. Moreover, Ukrainian children will continue their education in schools through the Ukrainian educational program in different cities of Georgia. 

On May 13, during the interview with journalists Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili reaffirmed the Government’s position on Ukraine after the start of the war. “We guarantee the people that there will be a lasting peace. There will be no second front and no war in the country - on the contrary, there will be development, building and peace. Our country and our people have already fought three times against the Russian Federation. This can be said because we went through the 90s, then the civil war and many troubles, and then the August War [of 2008], which still continues…,” Garibashvili said.  

It's noteworthy, that the day following the launch of the war on February 25, Irakli Gharibashvili stated that Georgia was not planning to join the financial and economic sanctions against Russia, considering its national interests and interests of the people. It was noted that Georgia was not going to hold a National Security Council session. “There is no need to hold a meeting of the Security Council today - in the given circumstances. It’s not my style to hold a NSC session, organize a show or PR… Nothing threatens Georgia,” the country’s prime minister stated.

The restrained approaches of Georgia’s Prime Minister and Foreign Ministry and within this context, the active statements of President Salome Zourabichvili, became a reason for speculations among international community and in domestic political life of Georgia, as if the government and the president have disagreements. The Ukrainian side actively criticizes the Georgian government for its position.  

The issue became more vivid, when President Salome Zourabichvili, presenting an annual report to the country's parliament on March 14, criticized both the government and the opposition, referring to the situation in Ukraine.

"Today, - the position and opposition – both commit sins against our country! The majority, instead of striving for unity, declares every dissent position as a betrayal or war-supporter. The opposition, instead of striving for unity, declares any statement of the Government as strongly pro-Russian... However, I agree with both – with the Government in the fact that we need to be careful, and with the opposition in the fact that we can also demonstrate courage”, stated Zourabichvili.

Z urab Batiashvili, expert at Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS) notes in his talk with Orbeli Center, that “Georgia should find its place in the new world order which would be created after the war”.

“The Georgian Government says, that it doesn’t want a war with Russia. Actually, nobody wants. We all want peace, but we have to clearly declare who is the aggressor in this war. We should say that Russia has occupied not only Ukraine, but also Georgia. We should demand the withdrawal of the Russian troops from the occupied territories of Georgia (Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region),” Zurab Batiashvili noted.

Referring to the tension in Georgian-Ukrainian relations, the expert stresses that “Georgia’s and Ukraine’s cases are very similar and that the people of these two countries have the same feelings regarding freedom”.  

“But the Government of Georgia does not participate in Western sanctions against Russia. Georgia didn’t even close its air border with Russia. That’s why, this situation creates some issues not only between Kyiv and Tbilisi, but also in Georgia itself”, noted the expert.

Within the context of events in Ukraine, sociological polls have been conducted in Georgia to find out public opinion on the conflict, the reaction of the Georgian government and other issues. 

A few days following the start of the hostilities in Ukraine, between March 4-6, Georgian company ACT conducted telephone surveys in Georgia, to find out  public sentiments on Russia, war and its possible impact. 

Based on the survey (809 people participated), Russia is an enemy for 84% of the respondents and only 11% don’t think so. 88% wanted Ukraine to win the war, and 1% wanted Russia to win.  96% of the respondents consider the Ukrainian events to be directly or partially related to Georgia and 87% is sure that “the war in Ukraine is their own war as well”. 72% of the survey participants noted that in case of succeeding in Ukraine, Georgia will be the next. 

Regarding the position of considering the war in Ukraine as theirs, Zurab Batiashvili noted that it is totally natural. “That’s why hundreds of Georgians have participated the Foreign Legion fighting against Russian aggression in Ukraine. Flag of Ukraine became symbol of freedom. Nowadays you can find as many Ukrainian flags in the streets and balconies of Tbilisi as Georgian ones,” Batiashvili noted. 

As for the Georgians and Georgian citizens fighting in Ukraine, the expert noted that “they are fighting not only for Ukraine, but also for Georgia” [1].

It is noteworthy, that the surveys conducted by the Caucasus Research Resource Center-Georgia (CRRC) in February-March 2010 by the order of the US National Democratic Institute – NDI found, that 46% of respondents positively assessed the Georgian Prime Minister’s response to the war. 37% of the respondents considered it negative. 

63% of respondents considered President Salome Zourabichvili’s response positive and 18% negative.