In a letter titled “On April 9, the Georgian People Did Not Fight to Change Masters,” society Kartuli reflected on the historical significance of this date against the backdrop of today’s global realities.

“There will be no sovereignty, and there will be no path to peace—this is the harsh dilemma we face today,” the authors assert.

The letter emphasizes that national sovereignty—not merely a change of rulers—embodies the steadfast will of the Georgian people, who seek to fully and unreservedly pursue their own interests and govern their own nation.

“It is important to remind those segments of society currently influenced from outside that trading the interests of the Georgian nation for loyalty to international powers undermines our sovereignty,” Society Kartuli said in a statement.

The authors express concern that “today, under the guise of containing Russian imperialism, the Western Deep State cleverly frames its objective of encircling Russia in a perpetual ring of fire, using small nations like ours merely as fuel for this fire.”

They also reference “a statement from an ambassador of one of our strategic ally nations who suggested that Georgians engage in a partisan movement: ‘You are three million, and they cannot exterminate all of you in just three to four days. You can retreat to the forests as partisans, and we will assist you from there.'”

“This was the ‘strategic’ advice given to a nation unprotected by NATO’s umbrella, with 20% of its territory occupied and Russian troops stationed just 30 kilometres from the capital,” the letter notes.

Despite their moral ambiguity, the pragmatic interests of the Baltic and Scandinavian countries are understandable; igniting a second front in the Caucasus serves to shield their nations from potential Russian aggression. Their proactive stance stems not from a genuine concern for democratic processes in Georgia but from a calculated desire to protect their own interests. It may be worthwhile for our radical opposition and non-governmental organizations to learn from them how to prioritize and safeguard their nation’s interests.

Society Kartuli asserts that, in light of today’s challenges, our country cannot afford to align itself with externally imposed anti-national ideologies.

We now face significant challenges, with war raging in our region—between Ukraine and Russia, in the Middle East between Israel and the Arab world, and increasing tensions in Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. The threat of conflict grows daily, particularly between Iran and the West. In these conditions, our nation cannot afford the luxury of loyalty to various externally imposed anti-national ideologies or interventions. This misplaced allegiance cost us our independence a century ago. Therefore, today, on April 9, we honour the memory of those who sacrificed their lives by resolutely defending our independence and sovereignty. Especially during a time when the protection of national interests has emerged as a dominant theme in global politics, aligning ourselves with any camp eager for conflict and prioritizing the interests of others will inevitably lead to yet another assault on Georgian statehood.

“There will be no sovereignty, and there will be no path to peace—this is today’s grim reality. In the struggle to safeguard national interests and independence, the unity of the Georgian people, society, and government is paramount. Only a cohesive national stance can serve as the bedrock for our nation’s survival amid global conflict,” the letter concludes.