In 1983, The Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument was constructed by the Soviets, close to the Jvari Pass overlooking Devil's Valley.
Designed by a Georgian architect, Giorgi, inside the walls are a typical Russian stylised mural depicting scenes from Georgian and Russian histories.
It was built to celebrate 200 years of the signing of the Treaty of Georgievsk, which established Georgia as a protectorate of the Russian Empire
The Soviet Union spent the year 1983, celebrating the bicentennial,
Many Anti-Soviet Georgians didn’t they protested, and "Sakartvelo" an underground publication published a special issue which emphasised Russia’s disregard of the Treaty of Sakartvelo, (this is also the recognised name of the country. Georgia, is the westernised name apparently)
So much for friendship: in August 2008 Russia began shelling areas of Georgia with an invasion and occupation of several cities. Although the conflict lasted less than a week, Russia only fully withdrew its troops in October of the same year.
There was very little International condemnation of this invasion, even though hostilities had been mounting for years; and today?
Today we question why putin thought he could invade Ukraine with impunity, perhaps if the western powers and NATO had taken suitable action and had not sat around with their thumbs up their backsides sucking up to putin so as to get cheap gas and oil, maybe just maybe this thug would not have invaded the Crimea, and certainly not Ukraine in 2022.
I digress.
The caucuses, the air is clean the air is fresh.
Some stunning views over Devil's Valley.
and a couple of ‘orses, which if you are so inclined one can for a few dollars/euros, climb aboard and be taken for a trot.
Nay, laddie not for me
