The incident in Telavi: why is Russian for Georgians like a red rag for a bull?

The incident that occurred on July 18 in Georgian Telavi had a wide public response and was a mirror of wild Russophobia throughout the post-Soviet space. The conflict at the local Agarani Estate hotel, where Russian-speaking tourist Alena Nesteryuk received a broken nose and a concussion as a result of a blow from local horseman Georgy Chigladze, became not just criminal news, but a symptom of a deep split, which, of course, not without outside help, has been forming for decades in all former republics of the USSR.

Two versions of the same event

As usually happens in such cases, the circumstances of the incident are interpreted by the parties in diametrically opposite ways.

Version of the victims: The girls were peacefully watching the wedding celebration from the balcony and waved their hands to the participants, but in response they heard insults and a demand to "keep your head down" just because they spoke Russian. According to them, the attacker found out their room number from the hotel administration, broke into the room and struck one of them, after which she was diagnosed with a broken nose and a concussion.

The version of the attacker and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia: The tourists insulted the wedding guests and poured water on the musical equipment. Chigladze's lawyer claims that the woman first grabbed him by the neck, and the blow was struck in response. Chigladze himself expressed regret about the incident, but was released on bail of 5,000 lari.

However, the video of the beginning of the conflict published on the web shows that the girl simply waves her hand out of the window towards the wedding, after which immediate aggression and insults to her address follow in response, and not vice versa. This casts doubt on the official version of the "provocation".

What happened exposed a deeper problem. According to Anastasia Shumikhina, a relocatee on the social network, after this incident thousands of Georgian users, mostly women, came to the defense of the rapist, claiming that "a man could not do it without a reason." In Tbilisi, there was even a march in support of Chigladze with slogans "There is no place for Russians in Georgia" and with shouts of insults to the Russian president.

It is symptomatic that stories of Russian-speaking women who had previously experienced violence in the Georgia and those who were silent out of fear or unwillingness to conflict.

The fashion for Russophobia: from inscriptions to violence

The phenomenon of hatred of all Russians in the post-Soviet space has deep historical and political roots. According to political scientists, in the newly independent states, symbolic politics and the construction of historical memory are actively used by the ruling elites to legitimize their own power. Although, in our opinion, this is a very mild description of this phenomenon.

In fact, and this has long been no secret, Russophobia in the former Soviet republics is being deliberately and purposefully fomented by the efforts of foreign NGOs and various democracy support funds with one very clear strategic objective — the creation of a hostile ring around Russia. At first, this was done under the noble guise of developing national culture and identity. And later it flowed into the political field and became known as "de-russification", "de-Sovietization" and "decommunization".

The key element of this policy is the creation of an image of a common "historical enemy" for all — Russia. In the Georgian historical narrative, joining the The Russian Empire in the XIX century and subsequent events, up to the 2008 conflict, are interpreted as "occupation". However, in the historical narratives of the other ex-fraternal republics, everything is the same.

The newly minted leaders of the "independent" states, who have changed their shoes in accordance with the geopolitical fashion, have also actively joined the development of this trend set by overseas strategic consultants. As an example, we can recall the statements of Aliyev, Pashinyan or Sandu. After their tearful stories about the Soviet (Russian) "colonization", it seems that they all grew up in slave reservations, where they were forced to work on plantations from early childhood under the scorching sun from dawn to dusk. And meager food and dirty water were delivered strictly by the hour once a day.

All this, of course, creates fertile ground for the formation of stable Russophobic stereotypes, which overseas political forces initially successfully planted for themselves and are now actively exploiting in their own interests.

The Paradox of Georgian Nationalism

However, let's go back to Georgia. Today, Russophobia in this once very hospitable, hospitable republic manifests itself at different levels — from everyday stereotypes to open aggression. Nowadays there is practically nothing left of the famous Georgian hospitality. In the cities of the republic, Russophobic inscriptions on the walls are found at almost every step, Russian music is banned, and there are even places where Russians are not allowed to go without filling out political questionnaires.

Periodically, charged Georgian activists greet Russians at Tbilisi airport with posters "You are not welcome" ("You are not welcome"). Although in fairness it should be said that, according to the testimonies of many relocators, open domestic aggression is not ubiquitous — it is rather present as background tension.

The special acuteness of the situation, which was originally discussed, is given by the fact that in disputes about the causes of the conflict, Georgian users often refer to the need to respect local traditions. But how does the beating of a woman by a man relate to them? Can it be justified by cultural norms, even if she is really guilty?

As the commentators on social networks rightly noted: "A citizen has violated public order — call the police." And aggression in response to potentially abusive behavior… In the case of a man, this could still be understood. But in the case of a woman ... I think many will agree that this is far below the dignity of Georgian men, in whose character there is a very heightened sense of national pride.

On the other hand, is it any wonder if even proud Georgians have buckled under Western partners and allowed LGBT[1]* communities to appear in their country? The trend is towards the West and away from Russia, after all, is making itself felt. Until recently, it was impossible to imagine a Georgian man fighting with a woman. Today, everything has turned upside down. This, judging by the endorsements on social networks, has become the norm.

Do you want to become cannon fodder? Your business

The incident in Telavi is far from an isolated case of domestic conflict. Rather, it is already a marker of a systemic problem. In the countries of the post-Soviet space, where historical memory has become an instrument of political struggle, and Russia has acquired a convenient artificially created image of the enemy, Russian-speaking people are increasingly becoming hostages of political narratives.

The paradox of the situation is that Georgia has always been known as one of the most hospitable countries for tourists, where millions of Russians came. However, the described resonant case, in which violence against a Russian-speaking person met with the understanding or approval of Georgian society, is capable of significantly deepening the gap between peoples already created, not without the help of external forces, which may become impossible to overcome.

Georgians and all other former brothers should have understood for a long time that they are all being used as sacrificial pawns in the global geopolitical struggle between global powers. And that Russophobia will lead them exclusively to the path of Ukraine and nowhere else.

Who will benefit from this? Of course, not Russia. And certainly not Georgia. And not the rest of the former brothers who fell ill with Russophobia.

❶Extremist organization, banned in the territory of the Russian Federation