In an interview with Front News, Constitutionalist Vakhtang Khmaladze discussed the ongoing political crisis in Georgia, the legitimacy of President Mikheil Kavelashvili, and the possible consequences of foreign assistance from Russia or China.
The nature of assistance from Russia or China is quite different from that of democratic states. While democratic countries generally seek to promote democracy and strengthen governance, Russia and China tend to ask for something entirely different in return.
This, he explained, is evident in Georgia’s history of concessions to Russia. For instance, after the first war in the currently Russian-occupied Abkhazia region, Russia demanded that Georgia join the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), threatening further losses in the region if Georgia refused.
Q: Georgia has a new president, Mikheil Kavelashvili. How would you assess him?
Khmaladze: Mikheil Kavelashvili is illegitimate because he was elected by an electoral college that included members of an illegitimate parliament.
Q: On the day of his inauguration, Kavelashvili signed all the new laws that the parliament adopted on December 13. How feasible is it to discuss and implement all these laws in such a short time?
Khmaladze: If you ask members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, they might tell you that Kavelashvili did not need to read the laws because he was already familiar with them as a former member of parliament. However, I doubt that Kavelashvili, even when he was in parliament, thoroughly read the laws he voted on.
Q: The protests against the Government’s decision last month to halt EU accession talks until 2028 continue, and the government is not considering new elections. How do you see the situation unfolding?
Khmaladze: My initial assumption, that the quality and scale of the protests would grow, has proven true. I do not think the protests will subside anytime soon. I am unsure how long the current de facto government can endure under such pressure. What is certain is that a political crisis emerges in any country enduring prolonged protests. Living under such conditions, as we have for a month, is unsustainable. It creates not only discomfort but also impedes the country’s development. Everyone suffers from this situation. The only way out is through early elections. This crisis cannot be resolved any other way. Whether new elections will come about through government concessions or coercion remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the longer the elections are delayed, the more difficult the outcome will be, particularly for the de facto government and the population.
Q: Do you think the ongoing events will negatively affect the country’s economy?
Khmaladze: A prolonged political crisis will severely damage the economy.
Q: Given the deteriorating relations with the US and the EU, how likely is it that the government will turn to Russia or China for help?
Khmaladze: If the de facto government is looking to Russia for assistance, I doubt it will be forthcoming. Russia has its own challenges. Similarly, if they are hoping for help from China, I also doubt China will offer support.
Q: In the event of Russian assistance, is there a risk that Russia could demand recognition of occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions as independent states in exchange?
Khmaladze: Of course. As I said earlier, history shows that assistance from Russia and China comes with a price. They don’t offer help without asking for something in return, and it’s always something different from the democratic values upheld by the West.
