Diplomatic War between UK and Russia and Role of Georgia

Diplomatic brawl and confrontation between Russia and Britain constitute one of thorny diplomatic confrontation today. Former Colonel of the Federal Security Service of Russia Sergey Skripal and his daughter were poisoned in the United Kingdom. According to official statements in London, there is a high probability that this war carried out by Russia.

This scandal has created a united position in the West in particular, Britain and the West have expelled more than 100 Russian diplomats from their own countries. United States, the majority of European countries and Australia joined to the diplomatic sanctions. (a total of 34 states)

 This type of Diplomatic demar against Russia is the first in Europe. We couldn’t see such a sharp reaction by the international democratic society during Litvinenko's murder ( Despite the fact that Russia was convicted in this case )  nor in the August 2008 - war between Georgia and the military intervention against Ukraine in March 2014. 

The Scripal’s case, West and the coalition of hard-line diplomacy can be explained by several factors:

First, in recent years, especially after the events in Crimea and Donbass, relations between  West and Russia have dramatically escalated, leading to the introduction of certain sanctions against Russia by the West. 

 The second and most important factor is that by demonstrating its own hard power, the Kremlin is trying to influence on various decisions taken by the European states. Russia increases its armament nearby  Central Europe and the Black Sea region. Over 100 thousand Russian military servicemen are mobilized in this area. This year, On March 1, Putin made a statement . He demonstrated nuclear missiles and overall nuclear potential of Russia.

Third, it is known that Russia has domestic unsolved problems, that's why Moscow tries to strain relations with Europe in order to create an “external enemy icon” this will cause internal consolidation of the public against  external enemy.  Consequently, the West is compelled to submit itself to Russia as a solid unity that is based on common democratic value also they try to demonstrate that they are not afraid of Russian nuclear warheads or missiles.

It is interesting to discuss Georgia's position in the following circumstances:

 After  diplomatic relations between Georgia and
Russia were suspended Russia sent 10 diplomats to Georgia, they are located in the Swiss
Embassy. The Swiss confederation
plays mediator’s role in the dialogue and relations between Georgia and Russia
federation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia shared the position of the United Kingdom and the international community on the issue and consequently, one diplomat was declared as unsolicited person. Diplomat must leave the territory of Georgia in 7 days.

It is interesting concern that  why did the Georgian government take this step now while country did not join the economic sanctions imposed by the international community against Russia after 2014?

First, the West has never had such solidarity against Russia, so this time Georgia has been able to share the leverage with this decision and join the diplomatic sanctions of the west.  As for  economic sanctions, Georgia could not afford to join them, because he did not have any economic leverage. It should be taken into consideration that by 2017 Russia is the number one trade partner of Georgia and trade turnover between Russia and Georgia exceeds billion US dollars. (Georgia has a negative trade balance.) Therefore, the economic sanctions would be a serious threat to the economic and financial stability of the country.

The possibility of joining the sanctions may be connected with the case of the Georgian hero Archil Tatunashvili, who was tortured and murdered in the Tskhinvali region. As we know, Russia has not taken any responsibility about Tatunashvili's issue.

Also, we must mention negotiations in Geneva format between Russia and Georgia. Within the Geneva format 43 meetings were held, but the result is not achieved. Russia demands from Georgia to sign a non-aggression agreement with Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, but Georgia does not have any obligation to sign such agreements with it’s regions. The Government of Georgia expresses its readiness to sign such a treaty with  Russian Federation as an agreement between the two subjects of international law, but Russia does not recognize itself as a party in this conflict.

In conclusion, the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which was signed in 1961, guarantees diplomatic immunity but in addition receiving State reserves the right to expel any foreign diplomat from its country at any time without any explanations. Thus, this action of the Georgian side and international community is not a violation of the obligations defined by the Vienna Convention.

                                                                   contributors 

Nika Chitadze
Director, Center for International Studies

 International Black Sea University

Abdulmelik AlkanPh.d.c, Invited Lecturer, International Relations

International Black Sea UniversityKetevan JebisashviliResearch Fellow, Center for International Studies