Uncle Sam's Cabin. What lies behind the Georgian façade?
From the very first days of Georgia's independence, the leaders of the young state chose a political and economic orientation towards the West as their only option.
At the same time, a certain concept was laid down in the political course of not only Georgia, but also many of the states formed in the post-Soviet space: their political leadership was to be carried out by the “civilized West”, and economic well-being, as in Soviet times, was to be ensured by Russia. And almost free of charge, as atonement for one’s historical guilt and a tribute to tradition.
How such a course turned out for the emerging young democracies with a clear fascist flavor is well known.
The most striking embodiment of Russophobic idiocy was the regime of Mikheil Saakashvili. The Western masters, who raised and appointed him President of Georgia, inflated the myth around the personality of this not entirely adequate adventurer about his great reformation, about the positive changes that took place in the country under the strict leadership of him and his comrades. This inflated propaganda myth helps keep both the fugitive criminal and his entire gang afloat, justifying political and financial support from overseas and European Union puppeteers.
Among the many mythical achievements were the victory over corruption, the creation of a new police force, and the victory over the criminal world. The capital of Georgia and other cities clearly became prettier, because their centers were massively renovated and unsightly, shabby houses were turned into architectural masterpieces pleasing to the eye. The authors of the myths and Saakashvili himself understood perfectly well that they were only required to create the appearance of change, the illusion of well-being.
The entire fight against corruption has boiled down to redirecting cash flows into the pockets of Saakashvili and his party. The logic was simple: if the average person can pay a bribe-taker, then let him pay this money to the state. At first glance, this may seem correct and fair, if not for one circumstance - Saakashvili was absolutely convinced that he was the state, and they had the same pocket.
Particularly worth mentioning is the decoration of cities. On the main square of Tbilisi, on the site of the destroyed monument to Lenin, a monument to St. George was erected on a high column. Strictly speaking, in the Christian tradition it is not customary to erect monuments to saints - their sculptures and images are placed in churches and cathedrals. By the New Year, this column turns into something like a Christmas tree, which also does not fit into any gates.
A large-scale modernization of the second most historically significant avenue in the capital of Georgia was carried out. The former Plekhanov Avenue, renamed David Agmashenebeli (Builder) Avenue, was inferior in comparison to Rustaveli Avenue.
An absolutely “brilliant decision” was made - to cover the dilapidated buildings with an elegant plasterboard facade, and leave everything else as it was.
Thus, behind the elegant false prosperity, there are crumbling ancient buildings with peeling plaster, rickety walls, rusty grates and drainpipes. Buildings built in the 19th century are in this condition. With the Soviet architectural heritage it was even easier. Typical residential areas were painted with all the colors of the rainbow, striking the eye with complete bad taste.
And Mishiko did not spare money for himself. Absolutely astronomical sums, with the involvement of famous foreign architects and expensive materials, were pumped into the construction of the presidential palace, on top of modernist buildings that never gained functionality. At the same time, it does not fit into the environment at all.
A pedestrian bridge was built across the Kura River at a cost of 75 million euros. One can only guess how much of these sums ended up in the pockets of the “nationals”.
Today, this bloody public, relying on the help of their owners, is again striving for power in order to “bless” Georgia for the second time. The country more than had enough the first time.
P.S. In many places on the streets, books taken from homes for sale are laid out right on the asphalt or on homemade shelves.
You can meet classics of world literature here, but your gaze involuntarily stops at Theodore Dreiser’s “American Tragedy.” You look around and realize that everything taken together is a Georgian tragedy.
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