CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VIII (2) ContEurVIII2 | Page 24

MANE BABAJANYAN
Russian influence recorded a steady decline in the two other South
Caucasian countries, Georgia and Azerbaijan. The current urgency of the
growing confrontation between Russia and the West and the possibility of
another “Cold War” threatens to exacerbate already existing divisions in
the South Caucasus. 6 Hence, regional geopolitics has become a
complicated issue in the region.
Since their independence, both Armеnia and Georgia have been
trying to conduct pragmatic foreign policies. From this perspective, the
priorities of the two countries differ notably. 7 Today, Russia is considered
to be Armenia’s primary “strategic partner” 8 and the most important ally. 9
Conversely, Georgian-Russian relations can hardly be described as
strategically important or friendly. Georgia has adopted a pro-Western
stance since independence. 10
According to Asanishvili, a reasonable explanation for these
diverging foreign policies lies in so-called “collective memory. 11 “In
recent history, Armenians have viewed Russia as a protector from
Muslim invasions. Meanwhile, Georgians considered Russia an invader
that “annexed” their territory. This environment of mistrust and hatred
was present even during the 70 years of Soviet rule in Georgia. A
“turning point” of the Communist period was the 1989 tragedy also
known as Tbilisi massacre or Tbilisi tragedy when the Soviet army
violently oppressed an anti-Soviet protest in Georgian capital leaving 21
people dead and many others injured. This event exacerbated existing
animosity of Georgians toward Russia and deepened the divide between
them. 12

6 The Perceptions about Armenia’s and Georgia’s Policy Towards Each Other Among
Two States’ Youth. Myths And Reality. (Yerevan, Political Science Association of
Armenia, 2015), 9, https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/georgien/12746.pdf.
7 Pikria Asanishvili, “Main Security Challenges in the South Caucasus Region:
perceptions of Two Countries” in Armenian – Georgian Relations: Challenges and
Opportunities for the Bilateral Cooperation (Yerevan, Political Science Association of
Armenia, 2014), 51-70.
8 “National Security Strategy of Armenia”, 2007,
https://www.mfa.am/filemanager/Statics/Doctrineeng.pdf.
9 Revaz Gachechiladze, “Geopolitics in the South Caucasus: Local and External Players”,
Geopolitics 7, no. 1 (2010): 122
10 Tracey German, “Good neighbors or distant relatives?” Regional identity and
cooperation in the South Caucasus”, Central Asian Survey 3, no. 2 (2012): 143.
11 Asanishvili, “Main Security Challenges”, 51-70.
12 Pavel K. Baev, Civil Wars in Georgia: Corruption Breeds Violence,in Potentials of
Disorder, (Manchester, 2003), 127–144.
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