I am sorry that Europe didn't pay enough attention to Georgia in 2008. We see you now, though, and we wish you strength and resilience in your fight for real freedom!
Thank you for keeping us informed on Georgia and what a great threat Russia is to so many societies. Sending energy and good vibes to Georgian people defending their freedom, democracy and dignity.
As we say in Ukraine, West might invented nuclear bombs but Soviet Union (for us it just reiteration of Russian Empire) perfected weapon much potent and dangerous - how to bomb people minds, and most dire situation is when your country propaganda and policies are fully alighned and amplifying each other with Russian ones. There basically no chanse for democracy then
Yeah I can't imagine the influence CNN, FOX NEWS and MSNBC have on anyone in America. 🤦 Criticism of news agencies is certainly understandable and valid. But don't you think we should be asking the follow up question as well: Compared to what?
Thank you for this interview and for covering the Georgian struggle! After Saakashvili and his government screwed up big time, the Georgian Dream started with high hopes. But now the Georgian Dream is just another nightmare. I hope Georgia will be free in the end!🇬🇪
This was an excellent discussion Jonathan and Eto. Thank you both for your interest in and efforts for a free Georgia. As an American, I would welcome greater engagement by the U.S. government, both covert and overt, in assisting Georgian citizens to fulfill their goal to be free of Russian control and to join the EU and other western institutions to improve their quality of life and to be free.
I visited Georgia in 2012 and fell in love with the country and its people. Georgian hospitality and cordiality brought our Ukrainian group literally to tears. I saw with my own eyes the police stations in Tbilisi intentionally built of glass to symbolize transparency of the local power. By the by, Georgia was one of the first states in the world that adopted Christianity in 330 AD or even earlier. The Georgians are highly civilized Europians with rich culture and noble dignity. I wish all the Georgian people peace, freedom, and prosperity. Thank you, Jonathan, for introducing such phenomenal humans on the channel!
Thank you, Jonathan, for inviting Eto Buziashvili for this interesting conversation. I hope, Georgians will have the final say. 🇺🇦 Перемоги і миру всім українцям! 🇺🇦
Another great and informative interview. Might have also been a good point to touch on the imprisoned former president who is being slowly killed by Georgian Dream.
I would not be surprised, if the Georgian Dream or at least some of its members try to get "permanently rid" of Saakashvili. However, we should also keep in mind, that the government of Saakashvili turned more and more authoritarian over time. So I hope that neither the Georgian Dream stays in power nor Saakashvili is coming back to power. For me more disturbing in the current events is, that until 2007 Iwanischwili backed Saakashvili and after they got into disagreement, Iwanischwili bought himself a new political party, which won the 2012 elections.
@Silicon Curtain. I listened to the podcast version and when I came home I want to share a thought I had in route. I heard about the Belorusization of Georgia, having in mind the crackind down of the protests gradually until a direct intervention leading to de facto ocupation. There is an argument to be made that belarus has also flirted with joing EU, not unlike Putin himself. Not unlike Goeorgia or Armenia, or even Kasakshtan. That should be take with a bit of salt as in fact the security services are aware of the ppl will but have no intention of fulfilling, only to use the time to gain trust and elections. But there is another parralel of modus operandi of FSB led russki mir in neighboring countries. One that encompass also Moldova chechnia and to some extent even countries that apparently have escaped the direct occupation in the first phase of expansionism: Romania, Bulgaria Hungary, slovakia Serbia, Germany etc : using the power of local kleptocracy (same as yanukovich in Ukraine or Shor in Moldova, Loukasenka in Belarus, AUR in Romania, ADF in Germany, Le pen in France) to get a followship already primed for violence in politics, than HOLLOWING THAT PARTY OUT , PURGING DISSIDENS like in the GOP in USA and Georgia Dream in Georgia and probably elswere, and then using money and the inherent money in politics to win power in that country and then to never let it go (like they try in Turkey, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Chechnia..So using democratic tools against democracy.
A well-thought-out analysis. I see the parellel here in the U.S. Our Supreme Court has been taken over by anti-democratic forces by design who pull the strings, above trump.
She articulates the whole thing very clearly. More people should listen to her! It would be good that, following the theme of Russian intoxicating influences on other countries, you would dedicate (please) an episode to the issue with Viktor Orban and Hungary too. He is not just pro Putin, but he has declared many times that central and North parts of Romania should be Hungary, like in the Hungarian Empire times. So here we have another aspirant of Emperor, and aligned with Putin. That's why Orban is so happy with Russia changing the territorial order of Europe. He wants to help Russia in their invasions, thinking that Putin will give him Transilvania or even all Romania in exchange. If Russia takes Moldova (and having the alliance of Hungary and Serbia) Romania will be besieged. I do believe he has some pact with Putin, and when the times arrives, he will betray NATO, in an attempt of having another Hungarian empire again, within the sphere of Russia. It already happened in the past. Everyone is too focused on the Baltics and North Ukraine, but I do think Putin wants to expand using the South, as we see in Georgia, and Moldavia-Transnistria is an open door into Europe, with the help of Hungary (The fact that Putin made Transnistria ask him for liberation shows what is the plan of Putin). I would take the issue of Viktor Orban very seriously. People is tired of him because he blocks NATO and the EU, but the real issue with Orban is even massively bigger than that, as I've mentioned.
Prior to the Atlantic Council DFRLab, Eto advised the National Security Council of Georgia and was involved in developing strategic documents. Before that, Eto worked as a senior analyst at the country’s Ministry of Interior, where she covered security issues related to Russia and the occupied regions of Georgia. She was one of the negotiators at the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) through which Russian officials and separatist leaders from the occupied regions of Georgia addressed the consequences of 2008 Russian-Georgian War. Eto graduated from the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and the University of Geneva with an MA in International and European Security.
I agree, henriiikkak2091. As with the Crimean situation in 2014. I have a feeling that, if they knew, Western Inteligencia, had ignored what Putin was doing. I think they didn't have 360 sight nor forward sight, meaning seeing what could happen but when it does happen, they say, we should have and could have done something. The other freakish feeling I have is that they wanted this to happen!
Russian Lessons (2010) were learned too late. Btw, does anyone know if Nekrasov went over to the other side with The Magnitsky Act-Behind the Scenes (2016) documentary?
I really can't understand how russia can be dragged in a war with Georgia if Russia doesn't want a war. And what kind of individual one needs to be to think that Georgia could declare war to Russia
The topic of digital authoritarianism is actual for both Russia/China and Western countries. Western countries pushing for digital authoritarianism not less than Russia or China. Some EU countries, like Netherlands, or Denmark are already decades total digital control fascist regimes. What about UK in that regard? 😂😅😅
those two countries r two of THE most free, most transparent, most anti-authoritarian, dedicated to human rights, most good-natured ppl's and gvt's, on this planet. You sound like you need information, bcuz u appear to be not aware of what reality is in europe.
Russia's 2 greatest exports, oil and misery. Europe seems to think that just because US is (currently) sending some aid to Ukraine, all the other problems have gone away.
I am sorry that Europe didn't pay enough attention to Georgia in 2008. We see you now, though, and we wish you strength and resilience in your fight for real freedom!
Once they start fighting, they'll need assistance just like Ukraine!
i was there in 1999 and there were skirmishes with russia even then repelling russian attacks
Yet another intelligent, informed, & analytical guest. Thank you
Thank you for keeping us informed on Georgia and what a great threat Russia is to so many societies. Sending energy and good vibes to Georgian people defending their freedom, democracy and dignity.
Georgia needs to be free and part of western Europe. Gods speed!
Thanks for another higher quality speaker. Helps me keep my sanity
Definitely commenting to thank you for your series on Georgia. 🇬🇪
💯 all the way.
You have to see RT influence in India. It's mind numbing. It's in all the regional languages too.
many of us in the West have been wondering a lot about exactly that
As we say in Ukraine, West might invented nuclear bombs but Soviet Union (for us it just reiteration of Russian Empire) perfected weapon much potent and dangerous - how to bomb people minds, and most dire situation is when your country propaganda and policies are fully alighned and amplifying each other with Russian ones. There basically no chanse for democracy then
Putin has been spending his oil and gas profits on propagandizing everywhere.
Yeah I can't imagine the influence CNN, FOX NEWS and MSNBC have on anyone in America.
🤦
Criticism of news agencies is certainly understandable and valid. But don't you think we should be asking the follow up question as well: Compared to what?
Thank you for this interview and for covering the Georgian struggle!
After Saakashvili and his government screwed up big time, the Georgian Dream started with high hopes. But now the Georgian Dream is just another nightmare.
I hope Georgia will be free in the end!🇬🇪
This was an excellent discussion Jonathan and Eto. Thank you both for your interest in and efforts for a free Georgia. As an American, I would welcome greater engagement by the U.S. government, both covert and overt, in assisting Georgian citizens to fulfill their goal to be free of Russian control and to join the EU and other western institutions to improve their quality of life and to be free.
I visited Georgia in 2012 and fell in love with the country and its people. Georgian hospitality and cordiality brought our Ukrainian group literally to tears.
I saw with my own eyes the police stations in Tbilisi intentionally built of glass to symbolize transparency of the local power.
By the by, Georgia was one of the first states in the world that adopted Christianity in 330 AD or even earlier.
The Georgians are highly civilized Europians with rich culture and noble dignity.
I wish all the Georgian people peace, freedom, and prosperity.
Thank you, Jonathan, for introducing such phenomenal humans on the channel!
Thank you for your coverage and insights
🇬🇧🇺🇦🏴🇬🇪🏴🇺🇦🇪🇺
Thank you, Jonathan and Eto. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦
Great work guys 😁. Keep up the information we all need for the future
Fascinating thank you x
Thanks!
Thank you! 🙏
what a sincere , honest , well spoken Georgian lass .. excellent
Prayers of democratic freedom for Georgians.🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Thank you, Jonathan, for inviting Eto Buziashvili for this interesting conversation. I hope, Georgians will have the final say.
🇺🇦 Перемоги і миру всім українцям! 🇺🇦
💛💙💜💙💛 listening uninterrupted 😊 🇺🇦 🌏 🇬🇧 🇺🇸
Thanks again, Simon, for platforming the important voices. Excellent and timely.
I was looking for some information on Georgia. People in my infobubble are uninformed but interested.
Thank you Jonathan for pointing this out, and thank you Eto and all the best to you 🙏
Another great and informative interview. Might have also been a good point to touch on the imprisoned former president who is being slowly killed by Georgian Dream.
I will, in other episodes.
I would not be surprised, if the Georgian Dream or at least some of its members try to get "permanently rid" of Saakashvili. However, we should also keep in mind, that the government of Saakashvili turned more and more authoritarian over time. So I hope that neither the Georgian Dream stays in power nor Saakashvili is coming back to power. For me more disturbing in the current events is, that until 2007 Iwanischwili backed Saakashvili and after they got into disagreement, Iwanischwili bought himself a new political party, which won the 2012 elections.
@Silicon Curtain. I listened to the podcast version and when I came home I want to share a thought I had in route. I heard about the Belorusization of Georgia, having in mind the crackind down of the protests gradually until a direct intervention leading to de facto ocupation. There is an argument to be made that belarus has also flirted with joing EU, not unlike Putin himself. Not unlike Goeorgia or Armenia, or even Kasakshtan. That should be take with a bit of salt as in fact the security services are aware of the ppl will but have no intention of fulfilling, only to use the time to gain trust and elections.
But there is another parralel of modus operandi of FSB led russki mir in neighboring countries. One that encompass also Moldova chechnia and to some extent even countries that apparently have escaped the direct occupation in the first phase of expansionism: Romania, Bulgaria Hungary, slovakia Serbia, Germany etc : using the power of local kleptocracy (same as yanukovich in Ukraine or Shor in Moldova, Loukasenka in Belarus, AUR in Romania, ADF in Germany, Le pen in France) to get a followship already primed for violence in politics, than HOLLOWING THAT PARTY OUT , PURGING DISSIDENS like in the GOP in USA and Georgia Dream in Georgia and probably elswere, and then using money and the inherent money in politics to win power in that country and then to never let it go (like they try in Turkey, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Chechnia..So using democratic tools against democracy.
A well-thought-out analysis. I see the parellel here in the U.S. Our Supreme Court has been taken over by anti-democratic forces by design who pull the strings, above trump.
She articulates the whole thing very clearly. More people should listen to her! It would be good that, following the theme of Russian intoxicating influences on other countries, you would dedicate (please) an episode to the issue with Viktor Orban and Hungary too. He is not just pro Putin, but he has declared many times that central and North parts of Romania should be Hungary, like in the Hungarian Empire times. So here we have another aspirant of Emperor, and aligned with Putin. That's why Orban is so happy with Russia changing the territorial order of Europe. He wants to help Russia in their invasions, thinking that Putin will give him Transilvania or even all Romania in exchange. If Russia takes Moldova (and having the alliance of Hungary and Serbia) Romania will be besieged. I do believe he has some pact with Putin, and when the times arrives, he will betray NATO, in an attempt of having another Hungarian empire again, within the sphere of Russia. It already happened in the past. Everyone is too focused on the Baltics and North Ukraine, but I do think Putin wants to expand using the South, as we see in Georgia, and Moldavia-Transnistria is an open door into Europe, with the help of Hungary (The fact that Putin made Transnistria ask him for liberation shows what is the plan of Putin). I would take the issue of Viktor Orban very seriously. People is tired of him because he blocks NATO and the EU, but the real issue with Orban is even massively bigger than that, as I've mentioned.
❤🇬🇪 from 🇨🇦
Prior to the Atlantic Council DFRLab, Eto advised the National Security Council of Georgia and was involved in developing strategic documents. Before that, Eto worked as a senior analyst at the country’s Ministry of Interior, where she covered security issues related to Russia and the occupied regions of Georgia. She was one of the negotiators at the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) through which Russian officials and separatist leaders from the occupied regions of Georgia addressed the consequences of 2008 Russian-Georgian War. Eto graduated from the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and the University of Geneva with an MA in International and European Security.
Get this lady back… she is so articulate…
Another great interview and very eloquent interviewee
Great discussion..all will be revealed in the next election!
It's quite telling that although I am Georgian, this is the third Georgian analyst I am learning about from this channel. Thank you!
It seems this conflict in Georgia 🇬🇪 is a replay of Ukraine Maidan 🇺🇦 , sadly.
Good news: The Foreign Agent Law is going to be repealed. The fight goes on.
So sad that Georgians are oppressed in this way.
You still have to fight for just governments for the people by the people.
Staggering, this modern view from 30,000 feet. Civilians can watch the patterns repeat in "real-time," as it were.
🇬🇧❤🇺🇦
👍👍👍
Troll farm bots are out in force on this one
Of course. Paranoid Putin sees colour revolutions everywhere.
We really can’t afford to underestimate what Putin can do with his “ruski mir” machine 😮
I agree, henriiikkak2091. As with the Crimean situation in 2014. I have a feeling that, if they knew, Western Inteligencia, had ignored what Putin was doing. I think they didn't have 360 sight nor forward sight, meaning seeing what could happen but when it does happen, they say, we should have and could have done something. The other freakish feeling I have is that they wanted this to happen!
🇬🇪🇬🇪 🏴🇬🇪🇬🇪
reminds me of the westminster regimes ' project fear ' in 2014
It looks like the battle lines are being drawn, based on what happened in Ukraine in 2014. Everyone--government and people--knows what's at stake.
Russian Lessons (2010) were learned too late. Btw, does anyone know if Nekrasov went over to the other side with The Magnitsky Act-Behind the Scenes (2016) documentary?
Would be great if we could have a union of St George, I don’t think I need to explain what the means.
Georgian nightmare
I really can't understand how russia can be dragged in a war with Georgia if Russia doesn't want a war.
And what kind of individual one needs to be to think that Georgia could declare war to Russia
🎉
This is their chance to have their own midan and they have to be violent against their government, police and secret service?
Georgian Dream Party = Gruzian Nightmare Party.
Hmmm, isn't the Kremlin a foreign actor ??
Georgian state police : Ukranian Berkut
Georgian gangs of thugs dressed in black : Ukranian Titushkis
Same playbook
The topic of digital authoritarianism is actual for both Russia/China and Western countries. Western countries pushing for digital authoritarianism not less than Russia or China. Some EU countries, like Netherlands, or Denmark are already decades total digital control fascist regimes. What about UK in that regard? 😂😅😅
those two countries r two of THE most free, most transparent, most anti-authoritarian, dedicated to human rights, most good-natured ppl's and gvt's, on this planet. You sound like you need information, bcuz u appear to be not aware of what reality is in europe.
I see a little troll, scaramouche, scaramouche, do the fandango!
Source : Ivan
Thanks!
Thank you!
And Thank you Johnathan for another amazing update/ Stream and guest … 💙💛💙
🇬🇪💪🇬🇪💪🇺🇦🇺🇸🇺🇦🇺🇸
Russia's 2 greatest exports, oil and misery. Europe seems to think that just because US is (currently) sending some aid to Ukraine, all the other problems have gone away.