Something incomprehensible is happening in Russian-Georgian relations.

While Europe has been hit by a hot season of sanctions with daily temperature records in Poland, the Baltics, Finland and beyond almost everywhere in the EU, the opposite is true for Georgia.

This summer, an influx of Russian tourists has been registered in the country.

In the second quarter of this year, most foreigners came to Georgia from Russia - 147.7 thousand.

At this time, Georgian wines and cognacs flaunt on the shelves of Russian stores, as well as mineral water, reminding that in relations between Moscow and Tbilisi (contrary to the ideas of the era of Mikhail Saakashvili) it is not too late to drink Borjomi.

Relationships have not completely fallen off.

The darkest times, culminating in the five-day war in August 2008, are over.

Since then, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge and wine.

Of course, there is no reason to say that the former Georgian leadership of the times of the “Rose Revolution”, which pathologically hated Russia, was replaced by a government capable of making a 180° turn and radically changing the vector of the country’s development and its policy towards the Russian direction.

However, important changes have taken place.

Firstly, the current Georgian authorities recognized as reckless the adventure of Mikheil Saakashvili, who attacked South Ossetia in August 2008, which led to the loss of territories and the deepest national trauma.

Secondly, unlike Ukraine, Georgia, with all its aspirations to join NATO and the EU, learned a lesson from the tragedy of 2008 and came to the conclusion that it would be more expensive for itself to continue butting heads with Russia.

Making money on the “anti-Russia” project, as today's Ukraine does, is not the Georgian way.

“We are categorically against the demands of the radical opposition to introduce a visa regime for Russian citizens, as this would be a manifestation of xenophobia and chauvinism,” Irakli Kobakhidze, chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said this week.

In general, while still declaring its commitment to the European and Euro-Atlantic choice, Georgia is more and more out of the line of states marching in an orderly column on the anti-Russian front.

However, it also fails to take a normal step towards Russia, fearfully without looking around: heavy weights are tied to the legs.

The opposition, demanding the introduction of visas and the adoption of its own national sanctions against Russia, is not the only force advancing on the government of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.

Ukraine does not leave its intrigues, sending signals that the Russian policy of Tbilisi is one big disappointment for Kyiv.

That was not what was expected.

And finally, the most important thing.

A few weeks before the meeting of the EU-Georgia Association Council scheduled for September 6, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, questioned the granting of Tbilisi the status of an EU candidate, which Ukraine and Moldova had already received in June.

Just the other day, Josep Borrell made a harsh statement that democratic reforms in Georgia are going very badly and with such a track record it is simply indecent to even stutter about obtaining the status of an EU candidate.

Whether business Ukraine - an excellent pupil in a class of democratic reforms.

And Georgia was an excellent student, but became a loser.

So have a conscience, batono Irakli, and drink your Georgian semi-bitter without us.

The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editors.