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The Gorchakov Fund is inviting people to the lecture of Dimitry Lortkipanidze in Moscow. The topic of
the lecture is “Georgia is facing a choice”
Is it reasonable when the Georgian politicians, public figures and Culture representatives visit Russia?
It is fundamental right for all the citizens to have a choice according to their will and opinion. It is
difficult to speak about the subject when there is variety of opinions regarding it. However, there are
traumatic subjects, which is sensitive for us and makes us feel offended, so it can never make us tolerant
of different opinions. Above mentioned question is exactly relevant to this matter, and I have my answer
which is principal - Russia is occupant and visiting Putin’s government, in his country or spreading
Russian propaganda is equal to betrayal of your country. When we speak about the visit of politicians,
public figures or representatives from Cultural field to Russia, we must know what is the visit about. Is it
personal benefit or is it the message from Georgians to the occupant?
The last 25 years’ history is all about hundred thousands of people, staying outside without their homes.
There are more than 200 000 refugees in Georgia and since 10th of August, 2018 Russia is continuing
provocations against Georgia. Many unlawful actions committed by the occupation forces and daily
terror of population demonstrates it all. Therefore, it is very comic to establish a good relationship with
the occupant country with the help of the culture. To my view, whenever only one part wants to resolute
the conflict, it is not right to use the Culture. Whereas we are trying to plan the repertoire in Moscow,
Georgian citizens from Akhalgori are killed, tortured and dead bodies are not even returned to their
families.
In my point of view we are making fun of our country when we travel to Russia for acting in concerts,
when the cold-blooded occupant sitting in the safe environment stretches the borders of Georgia’s land
day by day. The result of the dialogue carried on by cultural language is only the captured villages and
350 meters from the occupation line to the main line. Russia is Georgia’s enemy that holds 20% of
country’s land and still does everything to grab the whole country. The main target that Russia had in past
is the same in the recent years to have a full power and influence on the country. The target was achieved
during the Soviet Union but since Georgia gained its independence, the intention is being renewed.
Nowadays Russia produces a hybrid war in the world, especially in Ukraine and Georgia. Gorchakov’s
Fund established by ex-Russian president is one of the ways aiming to propagate Russian ideology.
Promoting the formation of favorable public image abroad, intellectual, cultural, scientific and business
potential, including financial support for national organizations. At the same time, strengthening Russian
diaspora.
We know from history that the Diasporas were used by Russia for their own interests and was starting
military interventions for the motive of their protection. This is a very famous method of pursuing
Russian politics. The existence of such a foundation in Georgia and carrying out any kind of lecture or
activities by this foundation, is part of the Russian policy. The foundation is led by Dimitri Lortkipanidze,
who supports pro-Russian politics, the same policy is pursued by the informal union - "Georgian March",
the supporter and follower of which is Dimitri Lortkipanidze himself. The speeches of "Georgian March"
are nothing but the implementation of Russian policy, propagation of anti-western politics, strengthening
pro-Russian opinion in society and division of society, which is exactly in the interests of Russia. The
same goal was also served by Russian-funded forums or conferences, such as Media Forum, which was
held in 2015. This is a hybrid war against Georgia. Georgian politicians who carry out lectures organized
by this fund are supporting Russian policy, therefore, it is absolutely unacceptable to my mind to carry
out such lectures and activities.
Since 2012, after the change of government, attempts to restore dialogue and relations with Russia have
started and Karasin-Abashidze's format was created. There is only one answer to the following question:
what real-valued steps has Russia taken in favor of Georgia's interests? Russia has never taken such steps
in the past, neither is taking in the present, nor will take in the future. The confirmation of the
aforementioned is the last meeting of Karasin and Abashidze, about which Russia has warned us.
However, it is important to signify that the result of this format is the arrival of Russian tourists in
Georgia and change of their views on our country. It is important for the younger people, who represent
the next generation, to be aware of the real picture of Georgia. However, these meetings did not bring
another important step to Georgia. Nor could politicians and even the representatives of cultural spheres
make progressive steps.
Therefore, the singing of Georgian artists and ovation of the Russian audience cannot change the
situation, but on the contrary, create gap in our society. In this case, we cannot distinguish between art
and politics. Russia is still grossly violating internationally recognized principles. It is necessary to talk to
them not from the stage, but the international tribunal. Georgia has two ways: one way to Europe, another
to Russia. Georgia should choose either European, Western, NATO’s path but not Russia’s. We should
talk to Russia not on its stage but from the international tribunal, we should use any international arena,
that is the way to speak with them in order to achieve our goal, which is restoring Georgia's territorial
integrity and its establishing as a democratic, free state. The only realistic and result-oriented process of
ensuring Georgia's development and security is integration into NATO and the European Union.
It is possible to think about the settlement of relations with Russia within the condition of this security
guarantee and the irreversibility of democracy. Membership of 28 strong states’ club (where attack
against one means attack against each one of them) is motivation that will force Russia to find a new form
of relations with Georgia and to adapt to the reality that there is a small, but democratic and strong state in
its neighborhood. As it happened in case of our Baltic friends and for what our ancestors have been
striving for centuries. In my opinion, there is no other way to achieve this goal. Visits of writers,
musicians and politicians who share Russian politics are just pouring water to its mill and nothing more.
გარდა იმისა რომ ჩემს მიერ ზემოთ დაფიქსირებულ პოზიციას მოყვანილი არგუმენტები
ერთმნიშვნელოვად ამყარებს, მინდა ავღნიშნო რომ შესაძლებელია მოიძებნოს გამართლება,
ჩემთვის და მთლიანად ჩვენი საზოგადოებისთვის მისაღები იყოს პოლიტიკოსების,
საზოგადო მოღვაწეებისა და მუსიკოსების ვიზიტს რუსეთში მხოლოდ იმ შემთხვევაში თუ
მათი მიზანი რუსეთში 300 000-მდე დევნილის სათქმელის გაჟღერება და ოკუპაციის ღიად
დაგმობა იქნება და არა ფინანსური სარგებლის მიღება, მაშინ კულტურის ენით საუბარი
გამართლებული იქნება. თუ პოლიტიკოსები, მწერლები, პოეტები, მუსიკოსები ჩავლენ
რუსეთში და იქ განაცხადებენ ხმამაღლა და ღიად იტყვიან საქარათველოს სათქმელს, რომ
რუსეთი ოკუპანტია, აგრესორია, ყველანაირი გზით ცდილობს ჩვენი ქვეყნის ხელში
ჩაგდებას და რომ ეს უნდა დასრულდეს. მაშინ არამარტო მე ერთი რიგითი ქართველი
ახალგაზრდა მივესალმები ასეთ საქციელს არამედ მთელი საქართველო, მაგრამ რელობა
სხვაა. თუ ჩვენ ვიმსჯელებთ უკვე არსებული მაგალითებით ასეთი ნაბიჯი არცერთ მათგანს
არ გადაუდგამს. სწორედ ამიტომ მათი იქ მხოლოდ ფინანსურ სარგებელს ეფუძნება და სხვას
არაფერს, ამიტომ მათი ჩასვლა რუსეთში ჩემთვის მიუღებელია და არანაირი შედეგის
მომტანი საქართველოსთვის არ არის.
Apart from the fact that the arguments brought by me unambiguously establish aforementioned position, I
would like to signify that it is possible to find justification.Visits of politicians, public figures and
musicians to Russia would be acceptable to me and all our society only if their aim was to float about
300,000 IDPs message in Russia and openly condemn occupation and not to derive financial profit, then
speaking the language of culture would be justified. If politicians, writers, poets, musicians arrive in
Russia, speak loudly and openly for Georgia, that Russia is an occupant, aggressor, trying to seize our
country by all means and that this must come to an end, then not only me, one ordinary Georgian young
person will welcome such behavior, but whole Georgia. However, the reality is far different. If we are
judging by already existing examples, no such step was taken. That is why their visit is only based on
financial benefits and nothing more, hereby, their visit to Russia is unacceptable for me and therefore, no
results will be brought to Georgia.
Part of the Georgian citizens welcome the visit of Georgian politicians and representatives of cultural
spheres in Russia as they explain it as follows: 400,000 Georgians live in Russia. This is the way of
explanation of visits in Russia by Georgian culture and public figures. In this case it is difficult to see this
step unjustified, but this visit should be used to illustrate that Russia is an occupant and its policy is
unacceptable to Georgian people, they should change their attitude towards Georgia and accept its
independence.
In our society they speak about Georgia-Russia's common faith and importance of its market for
Georgian economy, cultural and historical proximity. Therefore, they believe that Georgia's
relations with Russia should be improved, negotiations should be deepened, herewith, visits of
politicians are acceptable. However, the Georgian Church lost autocephaly and Georgian clergy
was persecuted, exactly in the condition of Russian occupation. Let us have a look on our nearest
past, on our neighbors and we shall see how Russia used and will use its market as a weapon of a
political influence. The result of Karasin-Abashidze format was the opening of the Russian
market for Georgia, the embargo imposed by Russia in 2006-2007 was lifted on Georgian
products. But even this step is in the interest of Russia. It will have another leverage to gain
influence and manipulate. Just like in case of our neighbors. Manipulating in economic-energy
way, by diasporas or conflicts, Russia is trying to maintain the leverage on all of these states.
Neither Armenia, nor Azerbaijan, Ukraine or Moldova could regulate relations with Russia.
Moldova has become a neutral state but still faces the conflict.
In conlusion, Russia wants to gain influence not only on the Georgian economy but also on all
areas, whether economic, cultural, social, political or other. Therefore, visit of representatives of
cultural spheres in Russia is part of this plan and is highly detrimental to our society.