Food, Wine, and Russian Disinformation

Tbilisi, Georgia is probably not top of mind for many people. It certainly wasn’t for me. But having the opportunity to travel here I quickly fell in love with the country. Tbilisi reflects its deep history but is also studded with modern European architecture and culture. En route from the airport at 5:00 am, the outskirts of the city appeared quiet, but we quickly arrived in a bustling city, even in the early hours.

Propaganda sticker in Tbilisi.

I’m working with MAGP classmate Andrew G. on a joint policy paper. We are here to study the impact of political warfare on the state of Georgia from Russian malign influence. We learned quickly that security issues loom large for Georgia. 

On our first day, we had the opportunity to meet with a leader in Georgian civil society, Nino Evgenidze, a member of the Economic Policy Research Center, who wasted no time in treating us to Georgian culture. From the start, our desire to talk security took a back seat to food and wine. The generosity of Georgian people is undeniable and unavoidable. 

Nino Evgenidze and Andrew G. discussing security issues in Tbilisi.

As we discussed Georgia’s array of security issues, we sat in the beautiful and modern Hotel Stamba, which used to serve as a Soviet propaganda house. Georgia today continues to sit on the front lines of Russian political warfare that ranges from disinformation to economic pressure and political exploitation. This creates deep challenges for the Georgian government as it struggles to safeguard its independence and seeks membership in the European Union and NATO. For their own reasons, reinforced by the practical logic of geography, European nations and the United States have taken only modest steps to deter Russian aggression or roll back the current Russian occupation.

Courtyard of the Stamba Hotel, former Soviet propaganda house.

These dynamics create a unique environment where life rolls on, but the threat from a powerful neighbor lingers over the population. Fortunately, as we attempt to unravel the complexities of Georgia’s geopolitical entanglement, we are certain to enjoy a generous course of food and wine along the way!

-- Kevin B., MAGP Cohort 4