Irakli Alisania Georgia and Russia

Irakli Alasania: Georgia and Russia

Russia has had a difficult time adjusting to democracy. They have been inundated by capitalistic barons, gangsters and leaders who remain stuck in a communist ideology. Russia has tried to look more like the West because they see the financial advantages of the move, but, unfortunately, it seems that it difficult to move to a free market way of life. The problems increase when they have so many problems with former Russian states.

Irakli Alasania is one of the established leaders of Georgia. He has held several federal governmental and diplomatic posts, but his goal is a Georgia that is free from the controlling thumb of Russia. The Russian attitude of corruption and control has been the hallmark of the Georgian government under Saakashvili, and Alasania wants to end that chapter of Georgian life. This essay discusses the life, politics and aims of Irakli Alasania.

He was born to a father who was a general in the Georgian army. His father was a tough soldier who died in the Georgian struggles with the ethnic Abkhazian peoples. The Alasanias were from this people also, but loyalty to the republic has been one of Alasanias callings.

He graduated from Tbilisi State University as a young man and immediately embarked upon a life in government. He was a promising young statesman who rose quickly in the Georgian government. He held the position as Minister of Justice and many other before he became the permanent envoy from Georgia in the United Nations. It seemed that there may have been something more than loyalty behind Saakashvili's appointment of Alasania to this post. He may have been trying to get rid of Alasania because he saw the younger man as a threat to his control over the state.

That was in 2006; in 2008 he resigned that post and traveled back to his native Georgia. He wanted to affect real democratic change in his government, and proved Saakashvili correct upon his return to Georgia as Alasania asked that there be immediate, early elections held so the people could elect a new president. After he was rebuffed in this request, he asked that there be a referendum vote addressing the early elections. This also did not happen.

There are many reasons for Alasania's aims to take his country beyond their communist roots into a democratic future. He has seen, with his sojourn in the United States what a free state can look like. He also realizes that corruption is rampant in his country, and that the average Georgian does not have the standard of living that they could be enjoying. Some of the problems: over 60% of businesses are being investigated for tax fraud; half a million people live in extreme poverty; farmers are not supported by the state against international entities (such as Turkey); and, extreme corruption within the executive branch of government. This is just a short list of the problems that the nation has right now.

Saakashvili came to power, and, like many other people given a lot of power, he misused the trust of the people. He started to accept the personal gains that were possible as president of Georgia, and stopped leading the people who had elected him. He allowed the corruption that has been a part of Georgia, and he allowed Georgia to remain a Russian puppet state. Alasania wants to change all of that.

Alasania has a vision for Georgia that includes many reforms which will turn it into a productive, free market, truly democratic member of the global slate of nations. He wants to forge a trading alliance with the United States. He would like for Georgia to become a member of both NATO and the European Union (EU). This would give the state credibility and help it financially by creating instant trading partners. He sees that Saakashvili has too much power. He wants to limit the power of the executive branch and add checks and balances as a feature of Georgian politics. He wants to curtail the power that the secret police, which has been a major issue because he was once a member of that body. He also sees that the people of Georgia are extremely poor and unable to receive adequate healthcare many times. He wants all of the hospitals to be privatized, so they can decide on care and acquire funds as a business would.