Scott Ritter To Georgian People: Dear Georgian People
Dear Georgian people,
For most of the 20th Century you enjoyed peace and prosperity as part of the Soviet Union, where you lived in harmony with your Russian neighbors.
In 1991 you allowed nationalists to lead you down a path of national suicide, prematurely declaring independence from the Soviet Union, and foregoing the normalization of relations with Russia in the false pursuit of western prosperity.
The West ignored you.
In 1991-2 nationalists instigated a Civil War in South Ossetia which tore your nation apart, leading to civil conflict and ethnic cleansing.
Russia intervened as a peacekeeper.
The West ignored you.
In 1992-3 nationalists instigated a Civil War in Abkhazia which led to the loss of that territory, the deaths of tens of thousands, and more than 250,000 Georgians ethnically cleansed.
Russia offered to intervene to save Abkhazia. The Georgian government rebuked the Russian offer.
The West ignored you.
In 1993 nationalists started a Civil War that threatened to tear your nation apart.
Russia offered to intervene to save Georgia.
You accepted the Russian offer.
Georgia was saved.
The West ignored you.
In 2003 the West pushed you to overthrow your government, tempting you with promises of EU and NATO membership.
In 2003 the West had you deploy your troops to Iraq.
In 2004 the West had you deploy your troops to Afghanistan.
The Russians did nothing to you.
In 2008 Russia was engaged in active negotiations with Georgia for the return of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The West ordered your government to stop negotiations, and instead use your army which the West had helped you build to invade South Ossetia.
You invaded, killing Russian peacekeepers in their sleep.
Russia counterattacked, destroying your army.
Russia stopped short of taking Tbilisi, which was left undefended.
The West did nothing to help you.
In 2014 the West provoked a war with Russia in Ukraine.
The West promised to stand by Ukraine forever.
The West promised Ukraine EU and NATO membership.
In 2022 Russia counterattacked.
Ukraine is being destroyed.
There is no EU membership,
There is no NATO membership.
There is only death and destruction.
In 2024 the West is trying to buy Georgian politicians in an effort to open a second front against Russia.
The West offers EU membership.
The West offers NATO membership.
Russia offers peace and co-prosperity.
Georgia, the choice is yours:
A path of peace and prosperity that leads through Moscow.
Or a path of war and total destruction that leads through Brussels.
Remember: Russia cares for you.
The West is only using you for its larger purposes.
If you choose the Brussels path, you will die.
If you choose the Moscow path, you will thrive.
Choose wisely.
