Source: civil.ge

Unlike other post-Soviet states, Russia no longer exerts “cultural influence” on Georgia, President Saakashvili said on November 8 and in this context he spoke of the power of television as a tool having “significant cultural and political influence on our identity.

“Russia is a retarded, feudal country – and let’s say directly what Russia is today: economically it is Nigeria sitting on oil – this retarded country has cultural influence almost on every post-Soviet country… It actually has no such influence over Georgia any longer,” said Saakashvili speaking at a meeting with a group of students of the Free University of Tbilisi.

In Moldova, Ukraine, “our neighboring South Caucasus countries” and Central Asia Russian leaders enjoy more popularity than the local political ones. “Georgia has put an end to it, Russia has no longer got it in Georgia,” he stressed.

“Why is it so important to strengthen our television stations? It has a significant cultural and political influence on our identity,” he continued. “We no longer watch ORT [Russia’s broadcaster now called Channel One], NTV [Gazprom-owned Russian broadcaster] or RTR [Russian broadcaster now called Rossiya-1] and thousands of other abominable things.”

Read More »Saakashvili on ‘Cultural and Political’ Power of TV