“The killing of the Anaklia port is the killing of this country’s future,” declared Nika Gvaramia, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, on TV Pirveli. He is confident that Georgian Dream blocked Western infrastructure from entering the country because it “was afraid of Russia,” and then, fearing the West as well, refused to hand over the Anaklia port project to China either.
“In fact, the interest in the Anaklia port and the transit corridor through Georgia is a huge event for me as a patriot and a politician. We told our Western friends about this, and they have seen for themselves that with Bidzina Ivanishvili, this is impossible.
First, he is a classic example of a person who does not honor his commitments.
Second, if he does not personally benefit, the country’s interests mean absolutely nothing to him.
Third, he constantly looks over his shoulder at Russia, so he will never allow the implementation of a project that even minimally conflicts with Moscow’s interests. Yet, the Anaklia port would mean the virtual death of Russian logistics in this region.
Therefore, the Minister of Economy stated that China is no longer being considered. But who knows if this won’t change tomorrow? And the statement that Georgia will build the port itself and then lease it out—whether to a Chinese, Iranian, or any other company offering the best terms—only means that Bidzina Ivanishvili will decide for himself whom to hand it over to. Right now, they are simply postponing this decision.
Western infrastructure was blocked because they were afraid of Russia. But since they were also afraid of the West, they are now saying that China won’t do either.
This is absurd. First of all, Georgia is incapable of implementing such a project on its own; we do not have that kind of money. And even if the money is found, it will be stolen.
There are two ways in which Georgian Dream is destroying the country’s future. The first is the destruction of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor passing through Georgia. I will say it straight: the killing of the Anaklia port is the killing of the country’s future.
The second is exploiting the war in Ukraine. The problem is not that Georgia’s economy today is largely built on the war—this happens in the history of various countries. The question is, does the Georgian people benefit from this? No, this money ends up in the pockets of Bidzina Ivanishvili and his inner circle.
However, when Ukraine wins the war and trillions are directed toward its reconstruction over the next decade, Georgia won’t be allowed anywhere near those funds,” Gvaramia stated.