Press Digest 05.02.2015
Republicans are allegedly pressured to leave the Georgian Dream
Russia might launch a hybrid war against Georgia
***
Republicans are allegedly pressured to leave the Georgian Dream
“Tensions are running high in the Georgian Dream coalition, and a bitter conflict will soon erupt. The Republicans have already accused the majority deputies of putting pressure on them.
As Republicans claim, their team members are being subjected to constant pressure and intimidation; allegedly, the leading party has promised them high posts if they voluntarily abandon the party.
Head of the parliamentary majority Davit Saganelidze has denounced a statement from Khatuna Samnidze (the Chairperson of the Republican Party), and declared that she must take responsibility to raise similar important issues at the political council sessions before proclaiming her opinions,”- reports the Rezonansi newspaper.
As Khatuna Samnidze maintains, the Republicans are under unrelenting pressure in the regions of Akhmeta, Tsageri, Chkorutsku as well as Kutaisi. Allegedly, their rights are constantly being violated in the aforementioned regions.
As member of the Akhmeta Assembly Zakaria Kinkladze alleges, majoritarian deputy of Akhmeta Zurab Zviadauri cannot stand Republicans. According to him, every member of this party is a thorn in Zviadauri’s side and he spares no efforts to put them in miserable conditions. Allegedly, nepotism is rampant in every regional body and only those who are in Zviadauri’s good books work in agencies or organizations.
“Member of the Republican party, Manan Gorgelashvili personally informed me that the Head of the Georgian Dream Coalition repeatedly urged her to leave the party. This is nothing new, however. When dealing with people, Zviadauri first finds out what kind of relations they have with members of the Republican Party; he mistreats those who are on good terms with the Republicans and creates problems for them,”- states Kinkladze.
Despite the Republicans claiming they are being forced to leave the coalition, MP Davit Saganelidze rules out that the necessity to do so will emerge in the foreseeable future.
“I am fully certain of the fact that in the nearest future the coalition will not be dismantled and we will meet the forthcoming elections together. However, similar hasty statements raise ungrounded suspicions, which is why I would urge the leaders of all parties to abstain from making such statements,”- announces Mr. Saganelidze.
Russia might launch a hybrid war against Georgia
According to Russian “Gazeta.ru”, the West has voiced concerns over the Russia leader possibly dealing with Georgia through “hybrid warfare” tactics which is why the North Atlantic Alliance plans to cultivate military-political relations with Georgia and thus block Russia from carrying out its plan,”- reports the Rezonansi paper.
“As the paper reads, the Western leaders fear that after Ukraine, Russia will deal a blow to Georgia by means of a military invasion.
Representatives of the Alliance assume that in Georgia, Russia will execute a scenario similar to that of Ukraine’s by lending vast military support to Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, regions that are expected to attack Georgia in the near future. However, according to them, Russia will not help these regions openly.
Georgian experts don’t think that such a fatal threat is actually coming from Russia today; clearly though, they cannot rule anything out,”- says the article.
“Russia can easily find an excuse to go to war with Georgia; although considering that the present developments in Ukraine have occupied the Russian leader’s attention it is unlikely that he will target Georgia in the near future.
Thus, before the issue of Ukraine is resolved, Russia is unlikely to direct its aggression against our country or in any way jeopardize its sovereignty. However, tensions can mount on the borders with breakaway regions anytime,”- claims military expert Temur Chachanidze.
“We cannot rule anything out; although it would be interesting to know how Abkhazia and South Ossetia would benefit if a war erupted in Georgia.
In any case, one thing is clear: considering that Russia has to handle countless issues in Ukraine, it is unlikely to put pressure on Georgia now.”- claims political expert Soso Tsintsadze.
