Russia's Interest in Georgia's Elections

Russia held military exercises in the Georgian breakaway territory of Abkhazia on Sept. 6 — the same day that Moscow announced plans to open a consular office for South Ossetia, another Georgian breakaway republic, in the Russian republic of North Ossetia. Meanwhile, Georgia has been receiving visits the week of Sept. 2 from several high-profile leaders, including diplomats from the United States, Sweden and Poland as well as NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

This surge of activity in the region is likely related to parliamentary elections in Georgia scheduled for Oct. 1. Georgia and Russia have been attempting to shape the context surrounding the vote, which will mark the beginning of Georgia's political transition away from the decadelong leadership of President Mikhail Saakashvili. But regardless of who assumes power, the tense nature of the Russia-Georgia relationship, driven by fundamental differences between the two countries, will remain.