What's Happening in Georgia

The recent conflict between Georgia and Russia have made world headlines, and generated a great deal of media coverage. I'm not going to add any sort of analysis, as I'm completely unqualified (not that that would stop many others!), but I just thought I'd write a little about how it has impacted here in Estonia, mainly for the benefit of those reading this in Australia. The closest I'll come to analysing the situation is to say that in my opinion Russia has acted the way it has in order to demonstrate to the world in general, and former soviet states in particular that they could invade any neighbouring country they like, and the rest of the world couldn't or wouldn't intervene in any meaningful way. Though it can be easy to forget living in modern Tallinn, Estonia was once part of the USSR. This was a message that was meant to be heard loud and clear in Estonia, and of course it has been.

Despite the Olympics, the Estonian media has been saturated with coverage, and everyone is discussing it. The small expat/English-language blogging community in Estonia is writing a hell of a lot about the conflict. A Finnish authour's article that Estonia would cease to exist in 10 years caused quite a stir. I have noticed that there has been more war coverage on estonian newspapers websites than Olympic coverage, in stark contrast to Australian newspapers (Though lets be honest Australia has got a lot more to write about in regards to the Olympics!!)

Most Estonians can remember a time when they were under Russian occupation. Relations with the big neighbour to the East is frosty at best, and there is a large Russian community (26%) here in Estonia which could form an "excuse" to invade, in order that they be "protected", as were the South Ossetians. It has always seemed strange to me, but most Estonians have this fear at the back of their minds, that the Russians could roll back into Estonia at any time.

Estonians also have very positive feelings towards Georgia. Estonia has contributed a great deal of money, advice and expertise in order to help develop Georgia. They see it as a country with a similar similar outlook and goals, though slightly behind Estonia in terms of development. Many Estonians have seen this as their chance to help a country in the same way that they have been helped by the EU, etc. And now they they can defend Georgia against Russian occupation in a way they were never defended, and in a way no one else is prepared to do now. The fact that the Georgian president speaks English well, and the Russian leaders conduct interviews only in Russian also leads Estonians to think of Georgia as modern and progressive and Russia and backwards and stuck in the past.

Realistically there is little Estonia can do, though they have done far more than bigger and more powerful countries (I guess they are scared their gas will be cut off!) However there is one way that most Estonians are visibly showing their support, and that is to buy Georgian wine! Sales of Old Tbilisi, the most common Georgian wine available here have doubled. I like the fact that you can make a political statement just by drinking a glass of Red!!!

Gaumarjos! That's Cheers in Georgian (if google hasn't led me astray!!)