(en) Sergey Biryukov I

 The destiny of Georgia from the moment of finding by the independence of country is difficult and dramatic. Political splits, the civil war of the 1991-1992 which have ended with the  death of first president Zviad Gamsakhurdia. Dramatical opposition  with the territorial autonomies came to the end with war of 1992-1993 in Abkhazia and catastrophic war of 2008 year with Russia, which has led to loss of territories. On this background took place a corruption scandals, struggle of the government against opposition (with variable success), splits in Georgian elite, death of top politicians, ambiguous results of social, economic and administrative reforms.

  That all stirring normal functioning and development of the Georgian state. Understanding the sources of similar disasters, and to offering the vision of ways of an exit from so heavy situation for the Georgian people – the main task of the author of this article.

 So many things in a situation of the transitive state depends on the person of the leader. However all the leaders of independent Georgia obviously aren’t lucky. Nationalist Gamsakhurdia who has put forward the slogan «Georgia for the Georgian» and launched the Civil war, which put the Georgian state on a side of wreck. Politically weak and pro-american engaged Eduard Shevardnadze, which have finished before deep crisis the Georgian economy and the state and eliminated from the power as a result «color revolution» after the parliamentary elections of 2002 year. Harismatic and the populist leader with accent on the western values Michael Saakashvili, who has failed (according to many experts) the scale reforms declared to him, lost «August war» of Russia and lost in her result Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Seems like the Georgian leaders of last years as if they go within the limits of a vicious circle, generating in consciousness of citizens of Georgia unrealizable expectations, maintaining extreme nationalism  and populism which get in political deadlock and move on the adventures getting into troubles the same Georgian state.

However Michael Saakashvili has surpassed in scale of the ambitions and political adventures of two his predecessors. The working president of Georgia repeatedly caught on frank lie with which help he planed to justify the adventures in the public opinion of the West. In the interview to the newspaper «Mond» the president of Georgia Michael Saakashvili again spoke about violation by Russia of positions of «the Plan of peaceful settlement» (known as «Medvedev-Sarkozy plan»), signed on August, 12th, 2008  [M. Saakachvili: "La Russie est tellement vulnérable!"//LE MONDE.FR. 19 Septembre 2008]. At the same time he has condemned so-called «ethnic cleanings», ostensibly "continuously spent" by the Russian side in territory of Georgia. Moreover, Saakashvili has continued to develop the former version about «the massed preparation of Russian for intrusion on territory of Georgia».

This performance nevertheless differed from the Georgian president who has appeared before in scandalous interview of the French broadcasting company «France 24» where Saakashvili has declared about «the aggression of Russia against Georgia». Saakashvili has told about «deep pleasure» of young generation of Georgians concerning the destroyng of the USSR. He has urged the West to refuse of «cliché» concerning his own person (in particular, from a «cliché» about his «impulsiveness» and «unpredictability»).

However, Saakashvili can’t to understood that all made by him in South Ossetia it has been estimated by pragmatical  elite of the West according to a known principle of Taleyran: «It is more than the crime, it is an error». For rhetorical moralists without «real content» are always doomed to failures in the politician.

In what the reason of this political failure? The slogan «Georgia for the Georgians», taken since Gamsakhurdia as a principle strategy of the Georgian state building, used by Shevardnadze and added to the political instruments by his successors and Saakashvili, has led Georgia to a political disaster. It is impossible to rush stones «in the Glass Walls House» — in small, but traditionally multinational and multilingual Georgia, which is as the fates decree in historically difficult region of Transcaucasia. For any infringement of his interethnic or geopolitical balance inevitably transforms the country into "powder keg" of Transcaucasia. Therefore the maintenance of certain balance both in internal or in foreign politics spheres of the vital Georgia for well-being and the Georgian people. Maintenance of such balance, in turn, depends on wisdom of a government of this country.

Unfortunately, Michael Saakashvili, which speaks so much about protection of national interests and revival of Georgia, about necessity of the weighed approaches, for the politician actually does all "just what isn't needed".

1. So, the government of Georgia, without taking into account opinion of the population, directs by order of Washington and Bruxelles the armed forces for participation in military operations as a part of the North Atlantic alliance in Afghanistan and in Iraq. It inevitably conducts to perishing of the Georgian soldiers and growth of negative attitude to Georgia from inhabitants of Iraq and Afghanistan. It is obvious that so strongly pronounced "negative" positioning doesn't promote strengthening of international positions and image of Georgia as the young state, capable to be the responsible and solid partner for other members of the world community.

Moreover, at a meeting during the NATO Summit in Washington Saakashvili has promised to direct even more forces on war to Afghanistan, having promised that the Georgian contingent will be there exactly so much, how many and NATO armies. He has confirmed that the government of the USA has supported his country in aspiration to become the member of an Alliance. Saakashvili has told that the declaration of the Summit of the NATO has laid for Georgia a way to the introduction into this military block without performance of standard requirements in frameworks «The Membership Action Plan». It is obvious that the similar position doesn't lean against a steady consensus even among NATO member states, and similar declaration of Saakashvili is really provocative. And after political self-determination of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in August of 2008 the similar position is fraught with occurrence of  opposition which isn't necessary today the NATO, neither Russia, nor suffered much from political cataclysms and oppositions to the people of Georgia. Whose interests are defended in this case by Michael Saakashvili? This question is from the category of the rhetorical questions.

2. The Georgian government from means of the western grants (without which regular activity of many institutes of the Georgian state is simply impossible) renders financial, material and other support being on territory of Georgia to insurgents of the international terrorist organizations and the rests of the Chechen terrorist underground. Within last twenty years because of internal weakness and instability, but also owing to a conscious activity of own authorities Georgia efforts of her heads became a place of stay and camp of insurgents and the terrorists searched by special services of the states of the West. Not so long ago in the Pankissi gorge of Georgia almost openly operated camp on preparation of terrorists, their bases of rest.  The well-known spot-check of Chechenian field commander Gelaev on frontier areas of Georgia with the  returning to the Chechen Republic is so memorable for us. Here, in Georgia, there were "adventurers", mercenaries and Islamic fans from all over the world – from the countries of the West, the Near East, Africa, Southeast and Central Asia. There are some bases to consider that they don't leave this region. The full submission to control of local authorities to "external influences», secluded gorges as it is impossible more suitable to the organization of the coaching centers, all-important geopolitical position – all this and another does Georgia an unusually attractive object in an infrastructure of world terrorism. In Georgia has been created «the Confederation of the people of Caucasus», which, according to her chairman Zaal Kasrelishvili, «recognized independence of the Chechen Republic and Ingushetia».

Spent by Georgia «the Caucasian Congresses», sudden concerning in «a Circassian question» (after long-term suppression of Abkhazians) obviously don't promote achievement of stability in Transcaucasia and in North Caucasian regions. It is remarkable that danger and undesirability of similar "status" of Georgia starts to be realized and in the NATO states.

Acknowledgement of it is the article «Mess for Georgia and a choice for the United States», written by James George Jatras, the former officer of External service of the USA, and also an analyst on foreign affairs of Republican Committee of the Senate of the USA.

Under the statement of the author of article, according to authentic sources, in December, 2009 in Tbilisi there has took place a secret meeting with representatives of set of groups – adherents of jihad, which have been created in the various Islamic and European countries for coordination of the activity on southern regions of Russia. The meeting has been organized with assistance of high-ranking officials of the Government of Georgia: though Saakashvili wasn't present, there were representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (allegedly, G. Lordkipanidze) and others, operating as masters and coordinators. The ambassador of Georgia in Kuwait Majering-Mikadze, under messages, helped participants to reach the Middle East. In addition to «military» actions (i.e. attacks to the South of Russia), the special attention has been given to the ideological war, for example, the beginning of translation of the channel «the First Caucasian» in Russian.

Also Jatras concludes, the United States should realize, that Saakashvili even more often grants a political asylum to adherents of the jihad, which are responsible for uncountable quantity of acts of terrorism in a southern part of Russia, that allow them to attack the Caucasian region.

Similar estimations present in article of political analyst Daniel Larison «Saakashvili's precipitate steps», which was been published in the newspaper "The American Conservative" (USA). The author reminds, that Michael Saakashvili, the president of Georgia, has declared to «The Independent» the day before that the acts of terrorism, similar to explosion of the suicide bomber on Monday at the Moscow airport, is «the revenge» for a policy of Russia in the North Caucasus. He also has compared the Russia with «a crocodile ready to swallow you up». It is necessary to notice also that Saаkashvili has made this public statement in some months after Georgia has cancelled visas to inhabitants of the North Caucasus. Against problems arising at Russia with safety in region, this step looked like «extreme provocation».

Georgia which need a stability on her northern borders, also she has irrational game. The Georgian authorities have started carrying out of a «new politics of rapprochement» with the North Caucasus that, according to Russians, is strategy of division of this region from other Russia. President Saakashvili unilaterally declared the implementation a visa-free regime for North Caucasian republics and has acted in ONU with own idea of «United Caucasus», including his the southern and the northern parts. Such ideas would be so good, if poet or even the businessman speaks about it. But when the president of Georgia declares it, that strengthen a political tension.

However Michael Saakashvili remains deaf to a sounding arguments of reason, that considerably complicates situation in Transcaucasian region.

 Feeling the impunity and support from the outside, Saakashvili conducts the aggressive revanchist policy against South Ossetia and Abkhazia with unpredictable and explosive consequences for all Transcaucasian region. Like Burbons, Saakashvili hasn't taken any lessons from August war of 2008, and still expects to return these independent territories by force, combinating aggressive quasipatriotic rhetoric with active military preparations.

In messages of world mass media of last time plans of the USA on delivery to Michael Saakashvili's government of the antiaircraft and anti-tank weapon about ten millions dollars are even more often mentioned.

More recently the President of South Ossetia Edward Kokojty has warned that «Georgia insincerely assuring all the world in the fidelity to the peace, but continues to re-equip Georgian army and refuses to sign the Non-Aggression Pacts, capable to prevent new war on Southern Caucasus».

Under the statement of some military experts, Georgia actively buys the antimissile and anti-tank weapon, because the war of 08/08/08 has shown, what exactly in it weak places of the Georgian army.

In turn, the first deputy of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia Alan Pliev has prevented: «We are disturbed by intention of Georgia to increase his military potential. Now Georgia intends to buy lot of Israeli tanks «Merkava-4» for defensive actions. Pliev also has declared that because of the help of Georgia from the USA and other countries of the NATO military-technical possibilities of the Georgian armed forces have exceeded their potential at the beginning of war of 2008».

Finally, according to government of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, activization of the Georgian Ministry of Defence, the become frequent flights of the Georgian pilotless aircraft near to borders of South Ossetia, and also maniacal unwillingness of Georgia to sign the agreement on Non-aggression give the grounds for quite defensible assumptions that the Georgian authorities prepare new bloody adventure. Thus, Saakashvili's all statements for peaceful disposition and for assuration of the world are no more than hypocrisy and a propaganda course that allows to predict the further intensity in region.

Whether internal affairs of Georgia are so good? Michael Saakashvili proves as the inadequate and irresponsible politician, the authoritative leader using reprisals and antidemocratic methods for punishment of opposition and personal enemies. All the history with inexplicable  destruction from «a poisoning with gas» in own apartment of the associate (and the competitor too) of Saakashvili Zurab Zhvania, and also his scandalous partings with influent ministers, active workers of party in power and other yesterday's colleagues is memorable. The wide international resonance has caused power dispersal of oppositional demonstrators on November, 7th, 2007 with use of gases and others «special means», that once again has confirmed decrease in a rating of Saakashvili and practical absence at him legitimate ways of holding of the power in his hands.

As a result at Saakashvili remains ever less supporters, and on opposite side many Georgian politicians are consolidated, wishing to realize the alternative, constructive scenario of development of Georgia. Oppositionists show rare unanimity in the forecasts about the ruling clique destiny. The head of party «Democratic movement - United Georgia» Nino Burjanadze is assured that Saakashvili will be will dethrone in the near future. After all he hasn't left other variant of actions to the people except revolt. One of leaders of Christians-democrats Levan Vephvadze considers that Saakashvili should leave office, but Nino Burjanadze hopes that Mishiko will have enough brains and conscience to make it on the free will. Seem like management of the Georgian party doesn't count on conscientiousness of the president. «The people wait for changes, we should destroy this regime at any price and put this country on the path of irreversible progress», - the secretary general of party of Koka Guntsadze has declared one of these days. It is obvious that so radical position has quite concrete sources rooting in authoritative and adventurous-inadequate character politics and a regime of Saakashvili, all less wishing to reckon with opinion of a society and the political opponents.

Along with it, Michael Saakashvili speaking a lot  about the adherence to democracy and  reforms, but in practice he acts as the corrupted figure using the financial help of the West for personal enrichment, pay off of loyalty of a part of the Georgian political elite and for financing of the grandiose projects.

The victory over corruption is a greatest bluff of the Georgia Power. As experts mark, the anticorruption measures undertaken in due time by the government of Michael Saakashvili have led to very sharp reduction of a traditional, visible part of corruption and to its modification. Corruption in Georgia has left upward, becoming elite (that admits the same international ratings), and has changed below, having partially legalized and having the forms of new paid services, promoting of the protege, reception of gifts etc.

As the ambassador of France in Tbilisi Eric Furnie noticed recently, all efforts of the European Union on rendering of Georgia the helps seems in vain. In the politics of president Saakashvili, according to the French diplomat, there is no progress. «Georgia had taking absolutely nothing from the European values. – the French ambassador has declared. - Mass media are in Georgia under a rigid press, the authorities counteract creation of trade unions for protection of the social rights of citizens, and minors arrest for theft of a pen in cost of 5 dollars. It simply disaster!. It seems to me, Georgia is a  neobolshevist country. Europe will be compelled to change the politics concerning Georgia».

The political conclusions of the French diplomat are even less favorable for the working president of Georgia. In this state almost all power belongs to one person – to Michael Saakashvili. Members of the government are appointed by him, the parliamentary majority is occupied with his party, the opposition is shattered and while is incapable to declare strategic alternative to his course, almost all mass-media are taken under the complete control, the independent court de facto doesn't exist, again typed and receiving several times more usual citizens, law enforcement officers are very loyal Saakashvili and ready to struggle with Georgian people.

The social and economic situation in the country is not less hard also. On an independent experts statement, manufactures in Georgia practically don't exist. Having looked at structure of the foreign trade balance of Georgia, we will see that Georgians export basically raw materials, scrap iron, nuts, a little bit of wines (2-3 % of export volume), and cars, which in fact are re-exported  Indian outlander cars «Mahindra». The imported goods consist of all consumer goods, fuel, building materials and foodstuff mainly!  Paradoxally, but subtropical Georgia can't support itself and on 60 % depends on foodstuffs export, including the export from Russia. All is result advertized, and as a matter of fact Saakashvili's adventurous economic politics, which basis were rupture of the important economic relations with many CIS countries, neglect interests industrial sphere and the rate on the massed help of the West which was frequently used not for the designated purpose.

The situation with realization of human rights in Georgia also is not so good. On November, 08th, 2007 it has been officially declared that the Supreme commissioner of the United Nations under human rights, Louise Arbur, with concern watches succession of events in Georgia, where it has been declared introduction to state of emergency.

«The Supreme Commissioner has declared that it is especially disturbed by messages on disproportionate use of force, including against the ombudsman of Georgia, arrests of leaders of opposition and beatings of demonstrators», — she told in the statement extended in the European compartment of the United Nations in Geneva.

Louise Arbur has expressed concern about intervention of special power structures of Georgia in activity of independent television stations which have compelled to stop translation.

Louise Arbur has reminded that Georgia is the party of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in which it is noticed that the right to life, interdictions for false arrests, tortures and on the rough reference with people operate under any circumstances and can't be suspended even in the conditions of state of emergency. The Supreme Commissioner has noticed that any restrictions on human rights should be proportional and should be as much as possible accurately limited on terms and scope of application.

The situation in sphere of the national politics is not so good too. The present authorities of Georgia breaks the rights and freedom of citizens of not title nation, in particular, representatives of the Armenian and Azerbaijan community of Georgia. The Georgian quasiimperialism in relation to the national minorities, noted by the western experts (for example, the Belgian political scientist Eric Moesli – see: Moesli E. Le nationalisme georgien fait fi des minorites//Le Soir. — 12 aout 2008. — P. 11), surpasses in passionarity level many Post-Soviet «small nationalisms». It has been much enough written about suppression in «united and indivisible Georgia» Abhazians and Ossetians. The politics of official Tbilisi in relation to Abkhazians and Ossetians can be defined according to norms of international law as ethnocide. Deprivation of language, identity, long-term the politics of assimilation in the relation Abkhazians and Ossetians has naturally ended with attempt of «exil from the earth» in 1992-1993 and 2008 years, but fortunately with no success.

One more considerable national group which is living in Georgia and exposed to regular discrimination, are Azerbaijanians. According to official figures, in their country is about 300 thousand persons, and on informal expert opinion — 600 or even 700 thousand persons, that makes at least 10 % of the population of Georgia. The territory of compact residing of Azerbaijanians is the east and the southeast of Georgia. It includes 4 districts with the centers in Gardabani, Bolnisi, Dmanisi and Marneuli, where azerbaijanian population fluctuates from 50 % to 80 %.

The region, where Azerbaijanians live, is called Kvemo-Kartli (Borchaly). But Azerbaijanians absolutely sincerely consider these earths historical and are assured that their ancestors here lived always. Thus Georgians say that Azerbaijanians are nomads and newcomers in Georgia, because they have started to be settled here only in David Stroitel reign  (XII century), that is categorically rejected by the azerbaijanian historians. Thus, the Georgian historians outline region of migrations of ancient Kartvelian more or less within the limits of territory of Kvemo-Kartli. But Azerbaijanians say, their historical earth is stretched much more widely and assert absolutely scandalous things in Georgia that during any periods of Tbilisi was under control of Turks.

If in Soviet period, in the presence of certain problems, the national situation was for Azerbaijanians tolerant and comprehensible. Destruction of the USSR and rise to power of the Georgian nationalists has made deep changes. rise to power in Tbilisi Zviad Gamsakhurdija and his policy «Georgia — for the Georgian» in Kvemo-Kartli meant mass settling of region by Svans and the active and violent replacement of the Azerbaijanians by Georgians that have led to several armed conflicts. It is considered that during this short time Georgia inhabitants of several Azerbaijan villages — in total have left some tens thousand persons.

Essentially the approach the Georgian to the Azerbaijan minority is almost identical to the approach to the Armenian. This same aspiration in the short period as much as possible to dissolve him and this same Georgian arrogance and comprehension of own superiority over Azerbaijanians. Armenians for the Georgian is «somech», and Azerbaijanians name in Georgia is «tatrebo» (Tatars). The word "Tatars" isn't offensive and designates the whole nation, but in Georgia and among the Georgian this name is considered as scornful and haughty.

The big problem for national minorities of Georgia is the language question. Citizens are obliged to communicate with representatives of local official structures in the Georgian language, whether it be at registration of official documents, drawing up of complaints or at reception of any services. Obligatory requirements at work reception in official bodies and licenses for professional work realization is the knowledge of the Georgian language. In reality, as well as in Dzhavaheti, it means a full domination of the Georgians in administrative and power bodies.

In 1999 for the introduction into the Council of Europe Georgia was officially obliged within a year to sign and ratify «the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages», protecting languages of the small peoples. However, even now, after the ten years after the introduction, it hasn't occurred and isn't observed the active attempts of Georgia to ratify this Charter that causes criticism from EU governing bodies.

Thus, using ethnopolitical science language, it is possible to conclude that Georgia is regional mini-empire and it is traditional, throughout several centuries shows very high imperial passionarity of an ethnic core of the Georgian people. However, this specific passionarity, being directed by not too reasonable politicians, it can cause the damage of the Georgian statehood.

Nowdays, Georgia endures a transitive situation when in the conditions of absence of reaction of external forces on the Georgian politics and absence of support by them of the assimilated people, Saakashvili's mode has possibility already on the average the period to achieve the purposes and or to undermine national identity at least Mengrelians and Armenians, or to squeeze out them from the country. That, however, won't mean at all the decision of an ethnic question and can create for Georgia very serious problems in the future. For these problems are covered not in errors of single politicians, but in an inaccuracy of the general course of a national politics of Georgia that Michael Saakashvili jealously follows. The essence of this political course is expressed by the slogan «Georgia – for the Georgian».

Taken since Gamsakhurdia as a principle strategy of the Georgian state building, and being using by Shevardnadze and Saakashvili, this slogan has led Georgia to a political disaster. It is impossible to rush stones «in the glass walls house» — in small, but traditionally multinational and multilingual Georgia. For any infringement of the interethnic balance inevitably transforms the country into "powder keg" of Transcaucasian region.

Eventually, all listed questions should be turned in the Georgian conceiving community called independently to understand the deep reasons of occurred events. To Georgians should to search for roots of troubles in itself not to repeat in the future of errors of the past. It is not necessary to build new myths and to wait for the charismatic savior behind a face mask of whom are hidden the characters of tyrant as Varlaam Aravidze from a movie "Repentance" of great Georgian director Tengiz Abuladze. The young Georgian nation  haven’t enough resources for a payment for adventures of next "leader", even if he will be loved so much in some world capitals.

Eventually, all listed questions should be turned in the Georgian conceiving community called independently to understand the deep reasons of actual events. Georgians really should to search for roots of troubles in themselves and not to repeat in the future of errors of the past. However, there is a danger that "the rejected" Georgians already will be engaged in the near future in forming of a new Antirussian myth and a new utopian projects instead of returning to the reasonable and balanced politics both in the country, and beyond her frontiers. That it will be inevitable to mean deadlock for Georgia.

The Georgian people have the right to make an independent choice that would promote an exit from a current situation, having posed the question about Saakashvili's responsibility for political and economic adventures for which the young Georgian nation more can't afford pay off. The question can be posed not only about Saakashvili's political responsibility for internal political failures and adventures, but also and about his responsibility, including criminal, for militaristic adventures and support of figures and the persons connected with the international terrorist network, within the limits of international law.

To the national minorities living in territory of Georgia, defending the civil and political rights, it is necessary to submit more actively claim references from the representatives to the international judicial instances (the International Criminal Court and the European Court of Human Rights) and Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for attraction of the international attention to the problems which get more and more acuity.

In turn, in the conditions of growth of revanchist moods and military preparations of Tbilisi government, the international recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and also expansion of economic and business cooperation of foreign countries with the Abkhazian and Southern Ossetia authorities and gradual involving of republics in the international economic, political and a cultural contact are necessary. The strengthening of the Abkhazian and Ossetian statehood with world community support becomes the reliable basis for safety both in Transcaucasian either in North Caucasian regions.

Hardly the modern course on the forced introduction into the NATO can be considered as reasonable alternative for the Post-Soviet states. Such course opens a way to the power to  adventurous-authoritative politicians, who for realization of the purposes are ready to any adventures, capable to put into question the sovereignty of the new Post-Soviet states. Examples of the similar politicians, endowing interests and the sovereignty of own state in advantage of «the Atlantic partnership», are presidency in Ukraine of Victor Jushchenko, led the country to system political crisis, and all worsening condition of modern Kirghizstan, led by yesterday's pro-western political activist Rosa Otumbaeva.

There is an occasion for reflections for the nearest neighbors of Georgia in region. Armenia position is important for stability and the peace in Transcaucasia in many respects, she should’t to forget that in power in neighboring country there is a person who has made an armed aggression in August, 2008, therefore she need more active cooperation of the country within the limits of the CIS and Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO). An example of such many-sided and mutually advantageous cooperation today is Kazakhstan, during long time carrying out reasonable and moderated to the politics, including the politics in an ethnic question.

Lessons of Georgia can be useful and for the states CIS which have endured over an epoch of «revolutionary shocks». For the new government of Ukraine which has already made many for normalization of relations with Russia, it need instead of priority interaction with the USA and the course of cooperation with the NATO should to develop multilateral partnership within the framework of the CIS and with the member states of the of CSTO. Taking into account the consequences of a short-sighted politics of M. Saakashvili concerning Abkhazia and South Ossetia, it is necessary for Ukrainian government to pay more attention to Rusin’s movement and to take into account historical, ethnic and cultural features of Rusin people and to recognize their right on possible in the long term an autonomy as a part of Ukraine.

The phenomenon  of dictators and political adventurists presents an additional occasion to reflect on such value as political wisdom, art of dialogue and political tolerance. They are capable to deduce from political deadlock the peoples and the countries. In turn, deficiency or absence of similar qualities at national leaders led the people and the countries to the numerous disasters – from which, as the author hopes, modern Georgia can get rid.