There is no any Single Word from Georgian Government that Russia is an Enemy | Nino Zhizhilashvili

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Nino Zhizhilashvili is one of Georgia’s leading political journalists and hosts. In her nearly 30-year career, she has never worked for pro-government media and has always chosen channels where she can openly criticize the authorities. Due to her work, authority, and popularity in Georgia, she has had multiple opportunities to transition into politics. However, she does not understand journalists who make such a transition, and it doesn’t appeal to her. Zhizhilashvili, who is also the dean of the Caucasus Media School, chooses to remain in the profession to keep those in power in check.

On October 26, parliamentary elections will be held in Georgia, and according to the journalist, this is an existential moment for the Georgian state. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has fully revealed the pro-Russian stance of the Georgian government and the head of the ruling party "Georgian Dream," oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who controls everything in the country. In its election campaign, "Georgian Dream" exploits the war in Ukraine, claiming that only they can guarantee peace in the country. They also promise to conduct a trial similar to the Nuremberg trials against former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, accusing him of allegedly starting the war in Georgia in 2008. The ruling party's campaign rhetoric hasn’t been without conspiracy theories about the global "party of war" and attacks on the LGBTQ+ community to prevent "Western values" from infiltrating traditional Georgian society. Russia does not hide its positive attitude toward Ivanishvili, openly praising his recent actions.

Journalist Nataliya Gumenyuk speaks with Nino Zhizhilashvili about how the current Georgian government has revealed its pro-Russian essence, who supports "Georgian Dream" within the country, Georgian protests against Russian-style laws, the opposition and Mikheil Saakashvili’s role in it, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, election conspiracies, and whom she places her hopes on for the future of her country.