Nov 18

Nov 18 Dispatch from Tbilisi: Visit to the Russian border By James Bruno

I traveled to northern Georgia today, 15 miles from the border with Russia. The mountains are awe-inspiring.

I estimate there are hundreds of trucks backed up to enter Russia. Locals say the wait time is about a week. There’s a wide-ranging mix of Russian, Turkish, Central Asian and many, many German trucks. What’s with that? Doesn’t Berlin sanction Russia?

The “Soviet-Georgia Friendship Arch,” (photo) built in 1983, close to the border. Georgians call it “ridiculous” and “embarrassing.”

One sees many young Russian males on the streets here, particularly in the fashionable Vake neighborhood of Tbilisi. They are skittish when approached by a foreigner, apparently fearing repercussions for loved ones back home should they go public with their stories.

Georgians tell me this new Russian diaspora (some 120,000) appears not to be burdening the government or social services much. The big complaint is soaring rents and real estate. Many of the Russians are digital nomads – highly educated folks who can work remotely.

That said, Georgians generally despise them. One hears, “They act superior, like they still own us.” “They refuse to learn Georgian.” “I refuse to speak Russian to them. I speak English just to mess with their minds.” “They pretend to be unaware of the aggression their government has committed against us. First they invade us and occupy 20 percent of our territory, then they come here as refugees. Ridiculous!” Many view them as a long-term security threat.

One Georgian think tanker told me, “Russians are hesitant to participate in interviews unless you approach them in an informal manner and setting (cafe, bars, etc). They are scared to share any kind of information as they think the information can be used against them.”

Just one of countless anti-Russian signs (photo) seen throughout Georgia. I’ll refrain from displaying the many “F**** Russia” & “F**** Putin” graffiti seen here. The shop owner of this one spat, “Our neighbor, the terrorist state.”

Some Russians are engaged in good works for poor Georgians in order to try to build good will with their Georgian hosts. See Deutsche Welle’s excellent report on one Russian’s efforts.

I’m in touch with the Freedom for Russia Foundation, with offices in several nations, including Tbilisi. Also, a Georgian research organization has conducted interviews with Russian exiles here, which I’ll share once they’re released.

James Bruno (@JamesLBruno) served as a diplomat with the U.S. State Department for 23 years and is currently a member of the Diplomatic Readiness Reserve. An author and journalist, Bruno has been featured on CNN, NBC’s Today Show, Fox News, Sirius XM Radio, The Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, Huffington Post, and other national and international media.