Think of it like a potluck dinner. Russia shows up with a giant potato salad that nobody asked for, and then tries to claim the whole table. Georgia brings homemade khachapuri (cheesy bread that will change your life) and a deep, proud history. They are very different dishes. One is heavy and takes up space; the other is golden, flaky, and everyone wants a piece.
When you travel to Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, you feel it instantly. The street signs are in their own squiggly script, people speak Georgian (unrelated to Russian), and the sun feels warmer. You won’t find a statue of Putin in the main square. You’ll find statues of medieval kings and the occasional giant, smiling cat. It feels like a cozy, hillside café, not a grim government building.
Georgia Southern Spring 2026 Calendar
Meanwhile, Russian flags and soldiers feel like a weird, unwelcome flashback. Georgians love their country the way you love your favorite pair of jeans—comfortable, lived-in, and definitely not borrowed from a bigger sibling. The idea of being “part of Russia” is about as appealing as a wet sock in winter.
What About The “Owning” Thing?
Some folks confuse “historically influenced by” with “part of.” Yes, Georgia was part of the Soviet Union for 70 years, like a particularly awkward college roommate situation. But the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Georgia left the party first, slammed the door, and never looked back. Being in the USSR is not the same as being in Russia, just like being in a sandwich shop doesn’t make you a slice of bread.
Today, when you ask a Georgian about Russia, you get a mix of eye-rolls, jokes, and a deep sigh. They feel like a small, proud sapling next to a giant, slightly grumpy oak. The connection is there—shared history, some family ties, and the language many older Georgians still speak—but saplings and oaks do not share a root system. They just breathe the same air.
Parts Of Georgia Occupied By Russia at Shirley Roache blog
