Five years after war, Georgia defies Russia over Europe

Irakly Garibashvili, Georgia's Interior Minister and nominee for the position of Prime Minister, speaks during a session in Parliament in Kutaisi November 20, 2013. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili

TBILISI (Reuters) - Five years after it fought a war with Russia, Georgia is preparing to defy its former Soviet masters again by initialling an accord on strengthening ties with Europe.

New Prime Minister Irakly Garibashvili is toughing it out just a week after another former Soviet republic, Ukraine, bowed to pressure from Moscow and suspended plans to strike a similar deal with the European Union.