New political identity has been formed in Georgia after the war with Russia in the August, 2008. The thesis of the Russian occupation of the traditionally Georgian lands has become a main idea of this new conception that, according to the present day Georgian political ideologists, should explain the whole history of Russian-Georgian relations since the time of Alexander the Blessed during whose reign East Georgia entered the Russian Empire. The conception of occupation is intended to become a main instrument of construction of a new political identity.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia really were important for the former national identity of the Georgia. The loss of these territories is a great national tragedy. That is why President Saakashvili and his Administration face no actual problems in the realization of their new ideological policy. Even Georgia opposition leaders such as Zurab Nogaideli and Nino Burjanadze don't criticize certain anti-Russian measures of the President, only his policy in general.
The new political conception is reflected in the newly published by the Ministry of Education of Georgia school-textbook specially devoted to the Georgian-Russian political relations in the last 200 years. The whole history is viewed in it from the perspective of the Russian occupation of Georgia. "Such idea has aroused in Shota Rustaveli Foundation after the war with Russia in the August of 2008, when it has become evident for all of us, that Russia is still continuing its traditional policy", said professor Bejan Khorava, one of the authors of this textbook.
Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi.
