Saakashvili, who handed Borchali over to Iran, is now playing the mullah

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has expressed support for Azerbaijan amid recent developments. However, it should not be forgotten that Saakashvili also played a major role in allowing Iran to spread radical Islam among ethnic Azerbaijanis living in Georgia, and he is now voicing concern about the issue.

Nevertheless, there is a serious contradiction in Saakashvili’s position. The foundations for Iran’s renewed economic and political entrenchment in Georgia were laid during Saakashvili’s rule from 2004 to 2013, while the process reached its peak under the subsequent Georgian Dream government.

Saakashvili’s government pursued a policy of rapprochement with Iran in exchange for substantial financial resources and investment. In 2010, the two countries signed a visa-free travel agreement. This created favourable conditions for thousands of Iranian citizens to travel to Georgia, establish businesses and acquire real estate.

Although these processes were halted in 2013 under pressure from the United States, Iran had already managed to establish a firm economic and religious foothold in Georgia during those three years. In 2016, the visa-free travel arrangement was reinstated by the incumbent Georgian Dream government. At present, the number of Iranian companies registered in Georgia stands at 9,300, with the total approaching 10,000.

Thus, the roots of Iran’s ability to conduct religious activities freely in Georgia today date back to Mikheil Saakashvili’s presidency. Through mullahs sent by Iran, seeds of hostility towards Azerbaijan have allegedly been sown for years among the Qarapapaq Turks, the Derbent Turks and fellow Azerbaijanis living in Russia and Georgia.

Ismayil Shahli