Parallels between Georgia and Ukraine

The current crisis in Ukraine, and Russia’s aggression against a sovereign country has stoked the memory of the events of August 2008 in Georgia.

When in 2008 Russia attacked Georgia, the world did not react in an appropriate way. It did not really bother much for the sake of tiny Georgia, as the issue of Russia seemed to be more important than Georgia’s interests.

In fact, the world sacrificed the interests of Georgia, and as a result, Russia was never appropriately punished for its aggressive deeds.

The very moderate and modest reaction by the world community only served to encourage Russia’s aggressive appetite, as evidenced by its even more aggressive and rapid steps against Ukraine.

In Georgia, Russia had been leading a subversive policy for nearly 15 years and eventually managed to snatch two Georgian territories (about 20% of Georgian territory) by encouraging the declaration of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which were eventually occupied by Russian forces.

In Ukraine, Russia did not waste such time. As soon as the pro-Russian President of Ukraine, Victor Yanukovich fled the country, Moscow triggered its ‘Crimean card’ and is now taking over the territory.

This time the stakes are much higher. Ukraine is one of the largest countries in Europe, and it has a population of nearly 50 million people.

However, Russia did not lose a lot of time on fulfilling its imperialistic claims.

In just a couple days, the population of Crimea will participate in a referendum, the results of which are quite clear – 60% of the Crimean population is of Russian ethnicity, and it is expected that it will vote for its separation from Ukraine by joining the Russian Federation.

So, the world faces yet another act of aggression led by the Russian military machine and its leader Vladimir Putin.

This time the West is obliged to take serious steps to stop Moscow.

Georgia’s leaders do not want to provoke Russia into taking further aggressive steps, because it considers that in 2008, the Georgian leadership under Mikheil Saakashvili’s presidency was trapped by Russian provocations, which was eventually used by the Kremlin to occupy Georgian territories.

But at the same time, Georgia needs to activate a plan so that if the world community manages to force Moscow to retreat in Ukraine, it should be followed by the de-occupation of the Georgian breakaway territories as well.

If the civilized world does not take radical measures in time, Moscow will do the same as Adolf Hitler did in the late 1930s.

Many politicians today still say that the world should exercise strategic tolerance towards the Russians and diplomatic means should be applied to the current situation. However, the Kremlin itself has limited the variety of diplomatic steps that can be used by the West. It has been said that according to the information of the intelligence services, there are around 30,000 Russian military servicemen in Crimea already.

This time, Russia has to seriously consider the consequences of its military intervention. Moscow is gambling – (bluffing), as if it is not afraid of a confrontation with Ukraine. Presumably, Kiev has to take more radical steps, provided it will have the West’s support.

Some analysts suggest that if the Kremlin fulfils its aggressive plans, Russia will turn towards Georgia next, followed by Moldova, the Central Asian states, Azerbaijan and possibly the Baltic states as well.

Thus, Putin will fulfill his dream – revival of the empire of evil – the Soviet Union under a different name.