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The Georgian government submitted its application for European Union membership last week — two years ahead of schedule, as domestic support for Ukraine galvanized calls to look West.

Why it matters: Leaders in the Republic of Georgia hope that the shockwaves caused by Russia’s invasion will spur reluctant EU members to admit longtime aspirants like Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova.

• “In making this historic decision, Georgia stands firmly beside Ukraine and its Euro-Atlantic aspirations amid the unprovoked Russian military invasion of the country,” the Georgian Embassy in Washington, D.C., said in a statement.

Flashback: Russia invaded Georgia in August 2008 in a five-day war that saw Russian-backed separatists in two Georgian regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, break off and form self-governed regions.

• In a strange twist, that invasion — like the current war in Ukraine — began just as the Olympics concluded in Beijing.
• Russia faced few repercussions after the Russo-Georgian War, which some analysts say empowered Moscow to annex Crimea in 2014.

Background: As a former Soviet republic that sits geographically on the divide between Europe and Asia, Georgia has come to view its identity through its Christian heritage and ties to ancient Greek civilization, which in the widely held view of many Georgians makes the country a part of Europe.

• “We are not only old Europeans, we are the very first Europeans, and therefore Georgia holds [a] special place in European civilization,” former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, known for his strong pro-West and pro-NATO stance, said during his 2004 inauguration.
• Georgia signed an association agreement with the EU in 2014, and it planned to submit its EU membership application in 2024.

Yes, but: Some EU member states doubt that Georgia can meet the bloc’s standards on issues like anti-corruption and clean elections, and they worry that pressure would grow to admit other prospective members.

• While the Baltic states have supported Georgia’s bid for EU membership, Germany and France have been more skeptical.

State of play: Allegations of democratic backsliding under the ruling Georgian Dream party have also jeopardized the country’s relationship with the EU.

• Last year, Georgian Dream drew criticism from EU and U.S. officials when it withdrew from an EU-brokered agreement aimed at resolving a political crisis after opposition parties challenged the results of the October 2020 election.
• Georgia then declined a loan offered by the EU, signaling a shift away from the bloc.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “obviously influenced” Georgia’s decision to submit its application for EU membership two years earlier than expected, former Georgian Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli told Axios.

• Tens of thousands of people were out demonstrating in Georgia’s major cities to support Ukraine, said Khidasheli, and many Georgians also signed online petitions urging the government to submit the EU application.

What to watch: Georgia’s path to EU membership is far from secured, but Khidasheli said that EU members might support Georgia as a way to stand up to Russia.

• “I think that European countries understand that they need to do something at this very moment, they need to do something to prove that Russia does not have veto power.”

Link ?

https://www.axios.com/georgia-applies-eu-membership-ukraine-bef3cb3b-ec79-43a5-b868-1114f99f7b41.html?fbclid=IwAR0Lrrt7ig5OdaJVRUVZLiSuexedP_Sqwii5RzEcBrGDJL-7oZxUsoKJgrc

It is often said of President Putin that he is a master tactician but not a strategist. I understand this to imply that he can make the most out of today and does not have the foresight to predict the consequences of his actions. Well, that is not entirely accurate. President Putin uses the military the only way the military ever works: to determine the circumstances that will define a future negotiation. So, Putin is what we make of him.

If Washington, Brussels, Berlin, Paris, Rome, Vienna, and London articulate fear, then Putin has won a strategic victory.

In my mind, the question is whether Putin’s brute force will be allowed to determine our future. Profiling Putin’s mental state is futile; if the Russian President was open to psychological support, he might not be leading a country as a ruthless dictator, but someone else would. No man should be given so much power because it is detrimental to their mental state. But this discussion has no substance; what is important is whether the Russian Bear will be allowed to bully first of Europe or maybe the entire Collective West.

Washington should rethink its priorities because the issue at hand is not geographic, even if it is geopolitical. The question is no longer “the Atlantic or the Pacific” but whether there will be anything left of the system we now recognize as “global governance”: the internet, the global market, and human rights regimes are devolving into separate and irreconcilable ecosystem with no normative guarantee. There is no “Great Wall” of the West to retreat behind. If Washington retreats that will be a strategic choice that will dilute its power beyond recognition. If Washington does not share its power with Europe, its power will be inconsequential.

Now, we should reflect on the substance of this rhetorically evocative affirmation “We are all Ukrainians!” If we are, we then need to think as Ukrainians. For Ukrainians, the question is how long this pain will last, and what will be left of their freedom. People in urban centres will go without electricity, communications, and perhaps even food. Ukraine’s children will not feel secure, will not go to school, and a whole generation will be marked by the fear of loss and the terror of destruction.

That is a fear Georgians know only too well. But it is not Georgians alone: Estonians, Lithuanians, Latvians, Poles, Czechs, Slovaks and Hungarians have this fear ingrained in them. European know only too well the fear of Russian tanks and what these can do to a generation.  And we should draw a line in the sand and leave fear behind us, as Europeans.

Fear is like smoking. The only way not to fear, is not to be afraid. We need to have the courage to imagine a future without fear, in Europe, otherwise “Europe” means nothing.

It is understandable that Europe fears the prospect of another devastating European war. But fear is contagious. If Europe sinks into the fear of Russia, peace and war will increasingly look similar. Russia’s demand for “breathing space” – a Near Abroad – feeds on fear, which is detrimental to the health of every democracy. Russia can ask for more countries, more limitations to freedom, more guarantees that the Kremlin’s ability to be the bully of Europe will go unpunished and unchecked. With care for the Russian people, we should stand up to the bully as what today is about the influence and dominance in the “Near Abroad” would be expended in distorted imaginations towards the “middle abroad” or maybe even further.

Westerners need to help Ukrainians not to fear: to be generous with assistance for the refugees that choose life anywhere rather than an existence in fear; to support those who prefer to die rather than live in fear; and they need to look at Georgians – and each other – and find ways of standing together so that their peace is not defined by fear. If fear defines the substance of what it means to be European or Westerner then Putin’s regime has won. And that will be the defeat of every Westerner that has every worked for peace since 1945 on both shores of the Atlantic.  

Tedo Japaridze is a former Ambassador of Georgia to the United States, a former chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of Georgian Parliament, a former Foreign Policy Adviser to the Prime-Minister of Georgia. He was also national security adviser to Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze. This blog represents his personal opinions.

You can sign the statement on the link provided below. Join us and together let’s demand the active steps and real decisions of the Parliament on the path of the country’s European integration.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTFgZaZY8TULjSGwLxUGYkt5t8SNN2frsLtkychrpMPpk4_Q/viewform?fbclid=IwAR24dQ3iYghPdFx1MmR-QLqnr2DI9GRYTuPyt1jkzeHe96UzMaGBF9TxPa4

Today, as never before, the joint and rapid action of all branches of the Georgian government is crucial to ensure Georgia’s European perspective. It is the duty of all representatives of the Georgian state to act quickly and purposefully in order to use the window of opportunity, which has been created to stop the criminal decisions and actions of the Vladimir Putin regime, and to ensure the country’s European future.

Georgia is the first victim of the Putin regime, the long-term struggle of the Georgian people for freedom deserves proper assessment and European perspective.

At the same time, we realize that the non-fulfillment of the Charles Michel Agreement is a significant obstacle to the establishment of relations with Georgia as a trusted partner. Therefore, we consider the fulfillment of the Charles Michel Agreement to be the most important condition for strengthening democratic governance in the country.

Correct and timely statements and resolutions are important for EU integration, but only a first step. Today, by making relevant decisions in the Parliament of Georgia, we must show the whole civilized world, including the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission, that Georgia’s struggle for democratic, free and European statehood is irreversible and we are doing our best to ensure it.

Accordingly,

1. The parliament of Georgia, in accordance with Article 78 of the constitution of Georgia, should immediately adopt a resolution on the launch of relevant procedures for Georgia’s accelerated accession to the European Union.

2. The parliament of Georgia should call on the executive government of Georgia to immediately apply for Georgia’s EU membership.

3. The government of Georgia should promptly present an action plan on the measures to be taken during this week for Georgia’s accelerated accession to the European Union.

4. The government of Georgia should, in accordance with the constitution, grant the President of Georgia the relevant powers to start negotiations with the European Union.

Signatories:

1. Civic Idea

2. Democracy Research Institute (DRI)

3. Open Society Foundation

4. Democracy Index

5. Institute for the Study of Nationalism and Conflict

6. Eastern European Center for Multiparty Democracy

7. Civil Council on Defense and Security

8. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association

9. Georgian Court Watch

10. Investigative Journalists’ Team “iFact”

11. Center for the Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG)

12. Human Rights Center

13. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI)

14. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)

15. Social Justice Center (former EMC)

16. Tolerance and Diversity Institute

17. School of Tomorrow

18. Equality 17

19. Mothers Against Gambling

20. Caucasus Dialogue Foundation

In addition, the application is signed by more than 150 individuals.

Note: The civil society appeal for the immediate start of Georgia’s accelerated EU accession procedure, signed by more than 150 individuals and dozens of representatives of civil society organizations, had been prepared before the ruling party officially announced its intention to apply for the EU candidate status. Due to the special importance of the issue, we are spreading the initial version of the appeal.

On January 26^th, Civic IDEA held a web talk with its partners about developments and perspectives in Kazakhstan.

“What Happened in Kazakhstan: Reflections from the field”

Story of the protests;
Are they over, or over for now?
Confidence towards the existing government and President Tokayev;
Controversy over a decision on shooting the demonstrations;
Influence of foreign powers with vested interests in Kazakhstan;
CSTO as a club defending dictators;
Split of the Political elite or business as usual?
Request for reforms, political and democratic reforms on the agenda of demonstrations;
Reflections from neighbors;
People believing in the possibility of change

If you want to listen to these topics and other interesting analyses from our experts, tune in for
? https://youtu.be/RPu3z12Sz-c

Moderator: Tinatin Khidasheli – Chairperson, Civic IDEA
Former Minister of Defence of Georgia

Experts Panel:

Tatiana Sedova
Freelance consultant on public participation, transparency and accountability, multistakeholder cooperation mechanisms, extractive industries governance, community engagement and capacity building;
Member of the EITI National Stakeholders Council in Kazakhstan; Board member of Zertteu Research Institute (open budgets and anti- corruption).
At different times Tatiana worked for international and national organizations: the World Bank, Publish What You Pay, EITI International Secretariat, GIZ, NRGI, MSI Integrity, Counterpart International, Eurasia Foundation, USAID, European Commission, PACT, Soros Foundation, INTRAC, Atlas Copco Rock Drills AB, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, City Bank, KazInvestBank, and others;

Mariya Lobacheva
Program director of Public Association Echo. Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative alternate Board member
She has about 20 years’ experience in the non-governmental sector in Kazakhstan. Her work includes managing a research and advocacy strategy to promote transparency and citizen participation. Mariya has carried out several analytical works related to the extractive sector’s influence on the local population, as well as civic participation in income management at the subnational level. Mariya also has extensive elections observation experience and has produced several observation reports.

Danila Bekturganov
Political scientist and a Director of NGO “Civil Expertise” in Kazakhstan. He has more than 20 years of work experience in the non-governmental sector of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Mr. Bekturganov has conducted more than 200 trainings, webinars, and TOTs for NGOs on elections, transparency of budgets and extractive industries, digital rights, and transparency of public procurement. Also, he is a member of the Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) for the implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in Kazakhstan.

Amangeldy Shormanbayev
Lawyer by education. Currently, Mr. Shormanbayev is a Kazakhstan Program Director for Public Foundation “International Legal Initiative”, political rights expert, rule of law regional program director.
At different times he worked for a number of Kazakhstani NGOs, primarily in the human rights field.

Ani Kintsurashvili
Senior researcher of the Georgian think-tank Civic IDEA, working on democracy, transparency and anti-corruption issues and focusing on regional perspective of South Caucasus and Central Asia.