Georgia: The West Reacts to a New Political Orientation

Georgia, once firmly oriented toward the West, recently has been ingratiating itself with Russia — a shift that coincides with Bidzina Ivanishvili's ascendance to prime minister. Western blocs, including NATO and the European Union, are worried about Georgia's resumed camaraderie with Russia, and these concerns surely will be brought up at the NATO-Georgia Commission meeting in Brussels on May 22. Indeed, Georgia's special representative for relations with Russia, Zurab Abashidze, said Tbilisi planned to gauge NATO's opinions about its ongoing negotiations with Moscow. Tbilisi has found itself in a position where it must balance relations with the West and Russia.