of Russia at the time, for which he received much criticism on many fronts.

When asked why he did not renounce Russian citizenship after the war, he answered: “I do not have the citizenship of the Russian government. The government will leave, and Russia and the Russian people will remain.”

In November 2009, an MP of the Russian Federation’s State Duma [ed. parliament] demanded Vashadze be deprived of Russian citizenship – Vashadze responded with a statement that he would voluntarily renounce Russian citizenship, which he did.

Opponents of Vashadze cite his Russian past, calling him “pro-Russian” and a “KGB agent”.

Other opponents have pointed out that one of Vashadze’s PR men has a Slavic name – Vitaly Shklyarov, who worked for Vashadze in his election campaign.

Georgian parliamentary speaker Irakli Kobakhidze noted: “Vashadzeworked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR. Now he has a PR manager by the name of Shklyarov. In my opinion, everything is clear.”

Vitaly Shklyarov is an American political scientist and a citizen of Belarus who has been living in Washington for the last 10 years. He worked in the elections in Russia with opposition parties, including in the campaign of Ksenia Sobchak, as well as in Europe and the USA in the campaigns of Senator Bernie Sanders and President Barack Obama.

Why are these elections important and how will they be remembered?

These are the last direct presidential elections

The country’s recently amended constitution defines the presidential term as six years, while in the past the president has served for five.

Moreover, this is the last time the