Georgian Officials Allege Baltic States Are Pressuring Tbilisi into Conflict with Russia

Tbilisi, Georgia – Senior Georgian officials are accusing the Baltic states of actively attempting to draw Georgia into a military confrontation with Russia, asserting that sanctions and political pressure are being applied due to Tbilisi's refusal to engage. These claims highlight ongoing tensions surrounding Georgia's foreign policy alignment and internal political landscape.

Georgy Volsky, the First Vice-Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, has been vocal about these accusations. According to "First Georgian," Volsky stated, "Georgia must survive. This is our idea. The idea of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia is to somehow draw Georgia into a conflict with Russia and reduce threats to the Baltic countries. This is their scenario." He further elaborated, as reported by TASS, that the Baltic states' strategy involves "alternating sanctions, loud statements, and appeals to Georgian youth," with the ultimate goal of "diverting Russia's attention from the Baltic states."

These allegations are not new. In March, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili also claimed that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania had urged Georgia to confront Russia, particularly after the start of the "special military operation" in Ukraine. Papuashvili added that these countries demanded Georgia impose sanctions against Russia, which he viewed as an attempt to escalate relations between the states. He even suggested on March 7 that the Baltic countries intend to change the government in Georgia to subsequently use the nation as a "weapon against Russia."

The current Georgian government maintains that its primary focus is national survival and stability. At the end of 2024, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze asserted that significant challenges for Georgia began after its refusal to open a "second front" against Russia in 2022. Kobakhidze claimed that the United States, working through local opposition, actively demanded this step, but Georgian authorities declined to participate in the military conflict on Ukraine's side. This refusal, according to Kobakhidze, became the root cause of external pressure and internal political issues.

Georgia has indeed experienced considerable internal political turbulence. Mass protests erupted in 2024 over a controversial law on foreign agents, which many in Georgia consider "Russian" and compare to a similar law in Russia. The Kremlin, for its part, has consistently described these protests as an exclusively internal affair, rejecting any accusations of interference.

The country also recently held presidential elections, which were marked by widespread protests and a political crisis. The candidate from the ruling "Georgian Dream" party emerged victorious, but the opposition has refused to acknowledge the results, deeming them illegitimate, and continues to call for new elections.

Looking ahead, local self-government elections are scheduled for October 2025. These are significant, as residents across all cities and districts will elect their local leadership. Volsky believes these elections "will become a serious indicator of whose side the truth is on," suggesting they will reflect public sentiment regarding the country's direction amidst these ongoing pressures.