No Georgian Crisis, No Ukraine Crisis.

The roots of the tension that led to the Russia-Georgia war in August 2008 go back to the early 1920s. According to the regulations made in 1922, Ossetia was divided into two, and "South Ossetia Autonomous Region" was connected to Georgia. With the disintegration process of the USSR, Russia, which left troubled regions in almost all of the regions it had to withdraw from, tried to establish close administrations in these regions after recovering itself. Thus, he wanted to continue his influence in the countries that gained independence.

After Georgia declared its independence from the USSR in 1991, in the referendum held in January 1992, South Ossetians voted for independence. The administrative units of Georgia consist of 9 regions and the capital Tbilisi, the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. Fearing that if South Ossetia accepts its request, other regional/autonomous republics might want to leave, Tbilisi did not allow it. Thus, Georgia, which did not want to lose land, continued to pursue policies that did not take this demand into account. Meanwhile, Putin, who came to power in Russia, did not hesitate to intervene in the South Caucasus and the events in Georgia in line with Russian interests.

In Georgia, which started to show a tendency to approach the Western world against the Russians, new developments took place in the domestic politics in the early 2000s. As a result of the Rose Revolution in November 2003, the election of pro-Western Mikail Saakashvili as President in January 2004, and the fact that Georgia gradually shifted to the Western axis disturbed Russia. The new President has intensified his contacts with the West to stay within the Euro-Atlantic borders and become a member first of NATO and then of the EU. Shaakashvili also started to follow a policy to move Georgia to a unitary structure (Öztürk, 2009, p.7). Thereupon, Russia, which pressed Georgia through economic embargo or natural gas policies, supported any attempt to save troubled regions such as Abkhazia and South Ossetia from the influence of Georgia in order to re-establish its power and dominance in the region. It has been evaluated that the main goal of Russia is to break the dominance that the West wants to establish in this region through Georgia, which is gradually approaching the West.

Regional policies of the West, such as NATO's efforts to expand towards Eastern Europe and even the Caucasus, and the Missile Shield project, which is intended to be deployed against Russia's intercontinental offensive power, against the possibility of Russia's re-emergence as a global power, whose economy has improved with oil and natural gas sales. (Öztürk, 2009, p.11) and the national policy of Shaakashvili, who won the presidential elections in January 2008 again, overlapped.

The declaration of Kosovo's independence in February 2008 and its recognition by the USA and many Western European countries was evaluated as a historical opportunity by South Ossetia. The South Ossetian administration called on Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the EU, and the United Nations (UN) for the recognition of their independence on 3 March 2008. However, the UN Security Council, at its meeting on April 15, 2008, did not accept this demand, which would harm Georgia's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Meanwhile, Russia, whose reaction and opinion was not taken into account after the independence of Kosovo, started to take steps to turn the South Ossetian problem into the Georgian Crisis with the motive of getting its revenge. In addition, Russia was also disturbed by the discussion of Georgia's membership request at the April 2008 Bucharest Summit. At this summit, NATO; In order not to conflict with Russia, it rejected Georgia's membership request for that period, but left the membership door open (Öztürk, 2009, p.3-7).

Meanwhile, Georgia, whose self-confidence is increasing day by day with the military, political and financial support of the USA, entered the territory of South Ossetia on the night of 7/8 August in order to break the Russian dominance in the region and strengthen the authority of the central administration. This conflict, which started on a local scale and on an ethnic basis, soon turned into a large-scale war involving Georgia, Russia, Ossetia and Abkhazia (November, 2008).

Russia with Russian peacekeepers in the region; He initiated the "Operation to Maintain Constitutional Order" to stop the attacks on the Russian minority in Georgia. Russia removed the Georgian troops in South Ossetia and deployed its own troops in Abkhazia. On the other hand, Georgia; He wanted to use this crisis as an opportunity to accelerate his NATO membership, but he could not see the support he expected from the West against Russia (Oğurlu, 2010, p.105-107).

Accusing Russia of violating international law, NATO decided to establish a commission to develop and deepen relations with Georgia, declaring that it would accept Georgia as a member at a later date. As of 2022, this promise of NATO still has not been fulfilled.

The EU, which remained silent during the crisis, chose the path of political dialogue to end the war afterwards. However, the visit of the heads of NATO and EU member Poland and three Baltic states, who share the same fears with Georgia, to Georgia was considered important because of its symbolic meaning. EU countries, including Germany, France and Italy, stated that the policy implemented by Moscow was wrong, but preferred to behave more moderately in order not to anger Russia, which is their energy and trade partner. However, the personal mediation played by Sarkozy, the President of France at the time, brought a ceasefire between the parties on 12 August 2008 and indirectly brought the EU to the fore in this crisis (Oğurlu, 2010, p.119-122).

From this point on, he states that Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been under Russian occupation since 2008 and demands that Russia end this occupation. The Western world, including Turkey, does not recognize the so-called "independence" of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within the framework of its internationally recognized borders.

In Georgia, where the USA and the Western world "cut off" active support, in the elections held on October 27, 2013, the candidate of the Georgian Dream coalition, who is still in power, Giorgi Margvelashvili was elected President instead of Mikheil Saakashvili, receiving approximately 62% of the valid votes. Salome Zurabishvili won the 2018 elections with 59.5% of the valid votes.

Turkey-Georgia Relations

Turkey recognized the independence of Georgia on 16 December 1991. The Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations was signed on 21 May 1992 and Embassies were opened mutually. Turkey has Consulate Generals in Batumi and Georgia has Consulate Generals in Istanbul and Trabzon.

After 1994, important developments were seen in the political, economic and military fields in Turkey's relations with Georgia. After the visit of then Prime Minister Tansı Çilleri to Georgia in 1995, President of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze made an official visit to Turkey on April 2, 1996. During this visit, along with other agreements, the "Military, Educational and Scientific Cooperation" Agreement was signed. In line with the developing relations in 1997, Turkey donated a patrol ship to Georgia (Uçarol, 2013, p.1345).

During the visit of Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz to Georgia on 16 April 1998, Turkey and Georgia decided to develop cooperation in the military field and organize joint exercises. Afterwards, the Turkish-Georgian joint naval exercise was conducted off the Poti and Batumi ports in May of the same year. With this, for the first time, this country's adaptation to NATO procedures was ensured and Turkey guided Georgia within the framework of partnership for peace (Milliyet, 1998).

Relations between Turkey and Georgia are at the level of strategic partnership. Turkey has become Georgia's largest trading partner since 2007 and trade relations continue well.

In addition to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which was put into operation in 2006, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway project, which was opened on October 30, 2017, played a role in increasing regional cooperation between the three countries.

It did not recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which claimed to be de facto independent after Russia's entry into Georgia in 2008 and was openly supported by the Russian Federation. Turkey's official stance has not changed as of 2022 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Note, 2022):

“Turkey strongly supports the territorial integrity of Georgia, does not recognize the so-called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and wishes for the peaceful resolution of these conflicts within the framework of Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Turkey also supports Georgia's efforts to integrate with Euro-Atlantic institutions.

Immediately after the Georgian-Russian ceasefire on 12 August 2008, then Prime Minister Erdoğan first visited Moscow on 13 August 2008 and then Tbilisi on his return. Thus, Turkey, together with some EU countries, actively stepped in to establish peace in the Georgian-Russian crisis. Turkey, to a certain extent, has started to follow a policy that will help to compensate for Georgia's losses during the war (Uçarol, 2013, p.1346).

After the war, Turkish-Georgian relations continued in their former warmth. Turkey continues to rank first among the countries that make the most direct investments in Georgia. Pursuant to a protocol signed between the two countries on 31 May 2011 and entered into force on 10 December 2011, citizens of the two countries can travel to each other's countries only with their identity documents. 

Regular high-level visits are carried out between the two countries. In order to further develop relations between Turkey and Georgia, the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (YDSK) mechanism was established. Mutual YDSK meetings are held between the two countries. More than 600 projects have been carried out by TIKA in Georgia to date, and approximately $33 million has been spent for these projects.

The Turkey-Georgia-Azerbaijan and Turkey-Georgia-Azerbaijan-Iran Trilateral and Quadrilateral Meetings process is considered among the important mechanisms that contribute to regional stability, peace and prosperity.

One of the most important issues in Turkey-Georgia relations is the process of returning Meskhetian Turks to their homeland. Turkey is following this issue closely and demands from Georgia to remove all obstacles to the return of Meskhetian Turks to their homeland, Meskhetian.

The Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP) passing through Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia was completed as of 1 July 2019. TANAP Europe Connection Opening was held on 30 November 2019 in Ipsala/Edirne.

Assessment

While the whole world has focused on Ukraine in recent days, Georgia still maintains the silence of the 2008 crisis. While NATO sees Ukraine, it is said that it sees Georgia as a "lost country" or it is said that let's solve Ukraine's problems first, then Georgia will turn. However, if the Western world had given the Georgian crisis the importance it should have in 2008, it is possible that the 2014 Ukraine crisis could have been prevented, that Crimea was a Russian territory, and that Donbas and Donetsk would not tremble today when the Russian soldiers waved their hands. Maybe everything started with Georgia, could it be that today's Russian-American deadlock needs to be resolved first in Georgia?