Yanukovich’s victory and Georgian-Ukrainian economic relations

Since 2006, when Russia imposed an embargo on Georgian products, Ukraine has become one of Georgia’s biggest trading partners. Now Viktor Yanukovich, a person highly undesirable for Georgia because of his clear pro-Russian orientation, has become Ukraine’s President. Georgian analysts and politicians are trying to foresee how bilateral relations will develop between the two countries.

Analyst Soso Tsiskarishvili thinks that the change of administration will have no impact on legal business between the two countries, but business based on personal contacts, which was partly illegal, will face serious challenges. “If we have previously gained some benefits and advantages from the Ukrainian side due to our common political sympathies we should forget about these now. Prices will be regulated by global market forces and no discounts are to be expected," Tsiskarishvili has told Ekonomiuri Palitra.

Economist Demur Giorkhelidze also thinks that there will not be much problem in the two countries' economic relations provided the Georgian leadership respects the choice of the Ukrainian people.