Factors of Russian-Georgian Relations 1991-2004

Abstract

The article examines the socio-economic and domestic political situation in Russia and Georgia during 1991-2004 which influenced the development of bilateral Russian-Georgian relations. The collapse of the USSR and the former system of governance exacerbated socio-economic and internal political problems in both former Soviet republics, which have now become formally independent and sovereign states, subjects of international law.

The formation of the new Russian and Georgian socio-economic systems took place in difficult conditions. Wide segments of the population suffered from the poorly thought-out economic reforms and privatization carried out in both countries. Without funding, the structures of education, free medicine, and science collapsed. Despite the declared freedom of trade, high taxation led to the flight of private business “into the shadows”, which strengthened the influence of criminal structures.

A serious threat to the Russian Federation and Georgia in the 1990s was the problem of regional separatism on the part of the respective autonomous entities within them. Russia soon managed to cope with this challenge and bring them (including the rebellious Chechnya by armed means) back under its rule. However, Georgia was unable to regain sovereignty over its autonomies – Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which are now effectively under Russian control, either diplomatically or militarily.

The conclusions are drawn that the socio-economic and domestic political situation in Russia and Georgia in 1991-2004 constituted a kind of background on which Russian-Georgian relations were built during that period. Domestic political processes taking place at that time in both states shaped the agenda of these relations and conditioned them.