Author: Bayram Elshadov
On December 14, presidential elections were held in Georgia. As expected, the candidate from the ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia party, former football player and ex-deputy Mikheil Kavelashvili, became the new head of state. According to the Central Election Commission of Georgia, 224 out of 300 people voted for 53-year-old Kavelashvili. Despite the boycott of opposition parties, he won the required majority of electors. Thus, neither unabated protests nor pressure from Western countries could force Georgia to turn away from its intended direction – the path of independence and national dignity.
Immediately after the announcement of the election results, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, at a briefing at the government administration, said that the election of Mikheil Kavelashvili to the post of President of Georgia would make a very important contribution to strengthening Georgian statehood and sovereignty, as well as to eliminating radicalism and reducing polarization. According to him, Kavelashvili’s presidency will be a turning point in the history of Georgia. In fact, Kavelashvili has become a symbol of the continuation of the course that Georgian Dream took after coming to power in 2012. During this time, the party was able to sufficiently strengthen its position in the political landscape of the country. His victory confirms the stability of the ruling elite and the desire of the people to move towards economic development, despite the spokes in the wheels that Westerners put in their way.
An important aspect of Kavelashvili’s victory is that the elections took place amid political tension. Four opposition parties, which passed into parliament as a result of the elections but refused their mandates, boycotted the meeting of the electors and declared “manipulation and lack of transparency of the process.” However, the election results will sooner or later be recognized by international observers as reflecting the will of the Georgian people, contrary to the wishes of the collective West. The effectiveness of the boycott in this case is zero, since the ruling party has received the legitimacy necessary to continue the political course.
One of the first leaders to congratulate Mikheil Kavelashvili on his success in the elections was the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. In the congratulatory letter, the head of state noted that Azerbaijani-Georgian relations are dictated by the will of the two peoples, who historically lived in conditions of friendship and good neighborliness and always supported each other. According to President Ilham Aliyev, built on such a solid foundation and based on mutual respect and trust, our bilateral relations are today developing comprehensively and successfully. Indeed, ties with Georgia are of particular importance in Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. Georgia plays an important transit role in the supply of our country’s energy resources to European markets, as well as in the transportation of goods from East to West. The two countries are not only neighbors and friends, but also important strategic partners.
The West could not break Georgia: failure of another revolution
Kavelashvili’s victory in the presidential elections is clear evidence that the Georgian people are firmly committed to preserving their independence and strengthening their sovereignty. This victory was the result of many years of work by the ruling party, which was not afraid to go against external pressure and maintain its independence in the political arena. Georgia, despite threats and attempts at interference from Western countries, has shown persistence in making its own decisions. Power in the country remains in the hands of those who believe in their own worth and ability to build a future without imposed external recipes.
Georgia confidently demonstrates that it has its own independent road, different from the paths offered by Western states. In conditions of tough political struggle and Western isolation, the Georgian people made their choice in favor of internal harmony and stability. The success of the elections is not only a victory for Kavelashvili, but also a confirmation that the country is ready to defend its interests in the international arena, despite numerous difficulties and challenges. The particular significance of Kavelashvili’s victory is that it symbolizes Georgia’s refusal of the external pressure that Western countries have long exerted. This is not just a victory in elections, but also a confirmation of the ideals of freedom and sovereignty. Georgia has shown the whole world that it has the right to independently decide how to build its political and economic system. This choice confirmed that the Georgian people are ready to protect national interests and move forward along the path they consider best for the country.
In addition, Kavelashvili’s victory strengthens Georgia’s regional positions. Given the country’s important role in transporting energy resources and goods across the Caucasus, the new elections underscore that Georgia remains a reliable partner for neighboring countries. Ties with Azerbaijan, Turkey and other neighbors in Central Asia and the Middle East will become even stronger, opening up new opportunities for economic and political cooperation. That is, Georgia has every chance of becoming an even more important link in the chain of interaction between the West and the East.
Finally, the elections demonstrated that the Georgian nation is ready to follow its own path, without looking back at the demands and expectations of external forces. It is also a message for other countries in the region seeking to maintain their independence and build relationships based on respect and mutual interests. It is important to note that this choice strengthened internal unity and confidence in the future. Georgia is confidently moving forward, choosing a path that suits its interests and historical mission as an independent and independent country.
Thus, the results of the presidential elections in Georgia can be regarded as an important step in strengthening national identity and sovereignty. The country has reaffirmed its commitment to independence and national dignity, despite all external challenges and political manipulations. The results of the December 14 elections underscore Georgia’s determination to follow its own path, based on state interests and strategic partnerships with its neighbors, rejecting outside pressure.