Restoring Russian Hegemony in the Caucasus: Coverage of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and the 2008 Russo-Georgian War in Russian and Ukrainian Print Media
Journal: Maryland Shared Open Access Repository (USMAI Consortium)
Year: 2022

Mikheil Saakashvili, the former president of Georgia, is a polarizing figure who has inserted himself in the region’s debate to remain in Russia’s orbit or to become more Western and democratic in outlook. Ukrainian and Russian print media’s coverage of the 2008 Russo-Georgian War reveals some stark differences in depicting Georgia’s leader at the time. The differing perceptions of Saakashvili tend to divide Ukrainians and unite Russians. Portrayals of Saakashvili unveil the similar aspirations