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| Russia is aware of pro-Western stance of Georgia’s new leaders. |
Premature regime change in Georgia presents a policy challenge to Russia. Highly visible political stunts of Vladimir Putin’s administration do little to conceal their general confusion. But it seems Russia’s only choice now is to watch and wait.
Russia’s ambiguity towards Eduard Shevardnadze has helped the opposition to force embattled president out of office.
Many in Russia, including the powerful military and security establishments hold a grudge against the Soviet foreign minister to has, in their eyes, squandered the geopolitical assets of the superpower. In Georgia, Shevardnadze opened the way to the US military presence in his country to the resentment of the Russian political elite.
However, Shevardnadze’s political weakness and corruption of his government have allowed Russia to come back from the seemingly losing situation. Acquisition of Tbilisi energy distribution network by RAO Unified Energy Systems and Gazprom’s take-over of the gas infrastructure reinforced Russia’s strategic position in the country and South Caucasus vis-a-vis the United States.