Andrey Kazantsev, Director of the analytical center of the MGIMO Institute for International Studies, expressed confidence that the victory of Georgy Margvelashvili of the Georgian Dream coalition at the presidential polls will continue in the economic and humanitarian fields. He said that Mikheil Saakashvili had been provoking conflicts between Russia and the West, mentioning the war in 2008 as an example.
Kazantsev predicts that relations between the two states will not necessarily become friendly, because territorial disputes of South Ossetia and Abkhazia remained. Georgia will not give the breakaway republics up.
Vladimir Zharikhin, Deputy Director of the Institute of CIS States, noted that Margvelashvili’s win would hardly change the foreign political course of Georgia. According to the new Constitution, the president does not have that much authority. Ivanishvili’s team did not recognize the independence of the two republics and will continue the path towards association with the EU and integration into NATO, he forecast. The expert added that Margvelashvili will finally consolidate power in Georgia.
Vyacheslav Kovalenko, Director of regional programs of the Institute for Caspian Cooperation, expressed hope that the positive moments initiated by Bidzina Ivanishvili in relation to Russia would continue. The expert reminded that the relations could not be separated from the territorial disputes. He predicts that the new government will improve the chances of resolving the situation.
Andrey Kazantsev, Director of the analytical center of the MGIMO Institute for International Studies, expressed confidence that the victory of Georgy Margvelashvili of the Georgian Dream coalition at the presidential polls will continue in the economic and humanitarian fields. He said that Mikheil Saakashvili had been provoking conflicts between Russia and the West, mentioning the war in 2008 as an example.Kazantsev predicts that relations between the two states will not necessarily become friendly, because territorial disputes of South Ossetia and Abkhazia remained. Georgia will not give the breakaway republics up.Vladimir Zharikhin, Deputy Director of the Institute of CIS States, noted that Margvelashvili’s win would hardly change the foreign political course of Georgia. According to the new Constitution, the president does not have that much authority. Ivanishvili’s team did not recognize the independence of the two republics and will continue the path towards association with the EU and integration into NATO, he forecast. The expert added that Margvelashvili will finally consolidate power in Georgia.Vyacheslav Kovalenko, Director of regional programs of the Institute for Caspian Cooperation, expressed hope that the positive moments initiated by Bidzina Ivanishvili in relation to Russia would continue. The expert reminded that the relations could not be separated from the territorial disputes. He predicts that the new government will improve the chances of resolving the situation
