r/armenia • u/jack_skellington_6 • May 04 '26
Politics / Քաղաքականություն Georgian opinions on ongoing summit in Yerevan.
I am a Georgian-Armenian, and I would like to share with you the thoughts and sentiments of Georgian society regarding the ongoing summit in Armenia and the arrival of European leaders in Yerevan.
In Georgia, Armenia’s policy of European integration is perceived quite painfully. This stems from a well-founded and logical conviction among Georgians that Georgia was once the primary partner of the United States and the European Union, serving as the regional leader in terms of reforms, anti-corruption policies, and democracy. Now, however, the public feels they have lost this position, which places Prime Minister Kobakhidze—who is currently in Yerevan—under direct pressure and in an awkward stance.
Despite this, Armenia is not viewed as an enemy. Rather, the sentiment is one of 'white envy' (benevolent envy); people wish to return to the level of partnership they enjoyed with the EU and the US prior to 2022. Many Georgians even admit: 'We mismanaged our relationship with the EU—it is our own fault and we deserved this outcome.
Also, Azerbaijan is not perceived in a positive light. One often hears the opinion that Azerbaijan treats Georgia like a 'younger brother,' acting as a bully and behaving like an overbearing and aggressive state.
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u/jack_skellington_6 May 04 '26
"ძალიან მიხარია სომხეთის პროგრესი❤️✊ "
newest random comment about summit. translate: i am very happy about armenia progress.
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u/Srslyredit2 Gyumretsi May 04 '26
It would be awesome if both Armenia and Georgia were making progress towards the EU
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u/SweetWittyWild41 May 04 '26
"In Georgia, Armenia’s policy of European integration is perceived quite painfully" So the plan is working. Georgians for a long time had viewed themselves as better than everyone of their neighbours because they were the poster child of eu integration received favorable treatment from them which boosted their egos beyond the sky. They were developed modern Europeans while armenians were backwards corrupt Asians (a problematic view on sooo many levels too much to tackle here)
It seems that it never crossed their mind this process could be reversed if they don't bother to uphold democracy, freedom, a constitutional state and so on. Waving eu flags and saying one is european as a normal citizens doesn't mean much when the values of eu membership are disregarded on the political and gov level
However armenia isn't any better and also is at high risk of progress reversal as we have the opposite problem the gov is very pro eu but this hasn't reached the public as a good chunk dont see themselves as european (as the view that armenia shouldn't be pushed into any larger category is very prominent) and corruption is viewed as a given as long as one can get a short term benefit from it the issues this brings for the country in the long run doesn't matter. Armenians still have a residual bond with our big bro abuser that was never tackled and no one bothered to push for a pro eu mentality among the public. The damage done to the publics mentality regarding corruption and over all hopelessness and feeling powerless in political matter was immense
Georgias public is very pro eu but the gov isn't which is why this favoring armenia at the moment is used to sting them to push for changes in their country
Armenias gov is pro eu but the people are indifferent towards it
Both cant work in the long run. The gov and the people need to be pro eu and pro its values for the path of progress to continue.
We just have to see if armenia can change the minds of the population to become more pro eu and embrace its values the election will show if this pro eu path will be cut short now until the election none of this pro eu stuff that is currently happening matters at all
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u/jack_skellington_6 May 04 '26
Bravo! This is a very deep, accurate, and logical analysis. I haven’t read an analysis like this in any top newspaper for a long time.
You’re right, I absolutely agree with you. For a long time, Georgians have been living in an illusion, thinking they would always have a pro-European government and that the leadership would indefinitely continue the same policy.
A mindset took root in Georgia: you don’t have to do anything. Just work and spend your vacations in Europe thanks to visa liberalization. The government will handle politics and democratization—or they simply won’t do anything at all, but at least they won’t ruin what’s been achieved and will maintain a stable course.
Based on what you said, it seems Armenia is in a worse position: Russia is weak, Iran is weakening, while Azerbaijan and Turkey are in a strong position. Armenia needs the US and the EU, but the public still wants Russia. Changing a society is much harder than changing a government. In this regard, things are simpler in Georgia.
The Georgian government is pro-Russian, but pro-Western sentiment is so high that the government is forced to seek a reset in relations. Kobakhidze is in Yerevan right now, essentially chasing after European leaders. Even one-third of the ruling party's voters are pro-Western. Kobakhidze has to take them into account.
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u/Putrid_Aerie807 May 05 '26
I wouldn't say the public wants Russia. There's a pro-Russian chunk, yes, and a slightly bigger pro-Western one. But most people are just tired and indifferent. Apathy is the real problem.
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u/GurPowerful7807 May 04 '26
Considering Georgians legit hate us I’m sure they’re livid lol.
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u/jack_skellington_6 May 04 '26
lol not everyone, but a large part of the population is angry. However, it's not directed at Armenians personally; it's more frustration toward the ruling party. It’s something like: 'It’s our government’s fault we’re in this situation; everyone (including Armenia) has outplayed us in foreign policy and the economy.
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u/Putrid_Aerie807 May 05 '26
Been living in Georgia a while as an Armenian and honestly haven't felt that vibe much, but you'd know better than me. My circle here sounds a lot like my Armenian circle back in Yerevan did. We were rooting for Georgia's European path, hoping that if Georgia made it in, we'd be next. Now my Georgian friends in Tbilisi say similar things, they hope Armenia succeeds, and they also understand that Kotsebi won't last forever, and whatever comes next will be pro-Western. So basically the idea is - Armenia doing its best to join the EU opens doors for Georgia, doesn't close them. If one country succeeds, the EU will surely try to expand further in the Caucasus, which will only benefit the other country.
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u/AliveAd9528 May 04 '26
Actually a different take here. How should I say this… ehm you guys deserve this treatment. In Armenia history for every wrong decision we made or people made for us Georgia includes, for example blocking shipments during 2020 artsakh war, we got punished severely. Georgia often time profited from our suffering. So this time Armenia will use Georgia as buffer zone to be protect from the big bear in the north. I personally hope that Georgia gets punished even more for exploiting Armenia and its wars with its neighbors for decades or even centuries, because in the end Georgia and its people never came to Armenias help ever…
But we as good people tried to be friendly with Georgia time and time again. Even after a genocide Georgia wanted a piece of Armenia Lori.
Thankfully you lost that war. We were only stoped because the British interfered.
So no remorse here really to be honest.
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u/SincerelyAmongus May 04 '26
No one should have remorse because the change in Georgias politics was 100% a conscious decision by the georgian population. Even EU deemed that election legitimate.
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u/BraveLawfulness716 May 05 '26
nah, that was a huge scam operation. There were videos of fake votes being added in the polls literally by the handful.
Georgians protested it for months. Current goverment might be legitimate on paper but it's absolutely not the choice of Georgians.
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u/jack_skellington_6 May 04 '26
as a georgian armenian, you are wrong about few topics, but i understand you opinion and thoughts.
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u/tarquomary May 04 '26
I know Armenia is learning from Georgia's mistakes. One of which is allowing too many Russians citizenship, and ending up gangrening part of their territory.
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May 04 '26 edited May 04 '26
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u/SincerelyAmongus May 05 '26
you literally have a mission to hide anti Armenian sentiment in georgia so your input is biased
and the difference is, georgian state has persecuted Armenians. Armenian state had never persecuted georgians.
You and OP should focus on fixing your own country instead of starting arguments here
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May 05 '26
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u/SincerelyAmongus May 05 '26
Heres the difference, there is no recorded examples of Armenians with anti georgian sentiment doing anything anywhere. Safe to say its existence is negligible.
However, its quite easy to find anti Armenian sentiment in georgian spaces everywhere and georgian state persecution against Armenians during times in genocide. Even the georgian OP admits it.
Saying “There are hateful people everywhere” is not “logical”. It is just downplaying real systemic discrimination that exists in your homogeneous nation state. It’s a tired, intellectually dishonest mantra that your grandpa probably told you when you wondered why girls look at you weird. It doesn’t mean anything. It’s not wisdom but being familiar with this type of argumentation, I don’t think you will move past it.
I bet to this day you wonder why Chechens Ossetians and Abkhaz wanted independence. Here’s a hint: it’s not because “there are hateful people everywhere.” Look in a mirror
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May 05 '26
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May 05 '26
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u/jack_skellington_6 May 05 '26
1) სომხეთის რედიტზე უნდა იცოდნენ მეზობელი სახელმწიფოს მოქალაქეთა აზრები; 2) საერთოდ არ აინტერესებს არა, ათასობით ადამიანი კითხულობს საინფორმაციო პოსტებს სომხეთის სამიტზე და სომხეთის დაჩქარებულ ევროინტეგრაციაზე და ძალიან ბევრი გამოხატავს საკუთარ აზრებს. ნიკა გვარამიაც წერდა გუშინ ამასთან დაკავშირებით; 3) სოც. მედია და რეალური ცხოვრების კომენტარები რატომ განსხვავდება? რასაც ადამიანი ფიქრობს იმას ონლაინშიც და ოფლაინშიც ერთნაირად აფიქსირებს; 4) სიძულვილი არ გამოდის და თუ გამოდის ძალიან ცუდი, ესეიგი უნდა შევცვალოთ დამოკიდებულებები. ბევრი კომენტარი ვიცი, რომ ცუდად უყურებენ სომხების ევროინტეგრაციას, მაგრამ უფრო მეტად ისრები მმართველ პარტიაზეა.
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u/almarcTheSun Yerevan May 04 '26
We wish Georgia to return to the previous level of partnership with the EU, too. Alas, now Georgia is a Russian ally in all but name.