Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream won 55% of votes after calculations of 97.03% of protocols at the elections on Monday. President Mikheil Saakashvili’s party won 40.27%. Ivanishvili’s coalition will get 38 seats of parliament according to single-mandate districts, Saakashvili’s will get 35. Vladimir Yevseyev, Director of the Center for Socio-Political Studies, says that victory of Georgian Dream may enforce other parties opposed to the president.
The expert believes that Russia and Georgia will have improvements in bilateral relations. Trade bans imposed during Saakashvili’s rule may be unblocked. Moscow and Tbilisi may establish regular flights. Some visa limitations may be lifted.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia are still independent.
Economic cooperation may improve the welfare of people. Many barriers may be lifted, Yevseyev assumes.
Russia may expect less intervention of Georgia in North Caucasus, such as the Cherkessk problem or the Sochi Olympic Games. Georgia is more interested in economic ties, political relations will see fewer improvements.
Relations with other regional countries will remain the same, Yevseyev says. Georgia will continue investing in Azerbaijan. They are interested in keeping the old relations, especially in oil and gas transit.
Georgian ties with Armenia are more complicated due to interethnic tensions. Relations with Turkey will resemble a partnership at best.
