Conflictologist Zakareishvili: authorities may not officially recognise occupied regions, but their actions support Russia

Georgian conflictologist Paata Zakareishvili said on Wednesday that while the Government may not formally recognise the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia, its actions effectively support Russia and undermine prospects for reconciliation with Ossetians.

“Everything is leading to a situation where we are telling Russia, ‘our hands are washed - we are not interested in this region,’” Zakareishvili stated.

He said instead of demonstrating to Ossetians that “there is a major difference between Russia and Georgia,” current policies discourage any desire for engagement with Tbilisi.

“They are burning bridges and eliminating any possibility of restoring relations with Ossetians. They frame the issue in a way that makes Ossetians say: ‘How could we ever live with you?’ They give no opportunity for conflict resolution and are effectively telling Russia: the United National Movement lost Tskhinvali, we cannot bring it back, we cannot find a common language with Ossetians, so it is better that you take the region as you are already doing,” he argued.

Zakareishvili said that while explicit recognition may not be planned, the Government’s approach still facilitates Moscow’s goals.

“It may not lead to formal recognition, they may not sign anything, but they are helping Russia. Instead of showing Ossetians the vast difference between Russia and Georgia - and why it would be better to live with us in one state - we are doing everything to ensure they have no desire to engage with Georgia,” he said.

He also commented on developments in another Russia-occupied region of Georgia - Abkhazia, saying that Georgia failed to react when internal protests led to the resignation of de facto leader Aslan Bzhania.

“Abkhazians ousted their de facto President because they rejected Russia’s policies. This was the first anti-Russian act, and our Government cowardly remained silent. No statement, no reaction - nothing to say that Russia is destabilising Abkhazia,” Zakareishvili noted.

His remarks come after Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili announced this week that the ruling Georgian Dream party had decided to abolish the administration established on the territory of the former South Ossetian Autonomous District.