Georgian President saddened by tragedy in Ukraine

The President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili is sending his condolences to his Ukrainian colleague Peter Poroshenko after a tragedy near the city of Volnovakha, Ukraine, which claimed the lives of 12 people and wounded more than a dozen others.

"I am shocked by the terrible tragedy that occurred in the city of Volnovakha, which caused the death of innocent people. An attack on the civilian population can have no justification,” he said.

"Georgia is well aware of the price of struggling for freedom and statehood. In this critical time we stand by your side and share the pain of our brotherly Ukrainian people. I want to wish you strength and peace and ask you to send my condolences to the families of the victims and to all Ukrainian people,” Margvelashvili noted.

The Georgian President visited the Ukrainian Embassy in Georgia and left a note in the book of condolences.

Margvelashvili reaffirmed Georgia’s support for the Ukrainian people and personally offered his condolences to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine Vasyl Tsybenko.

On January 13, a shell hit a bus full of civilians at a government checkpoint about 35km south-west of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk in Ukraine. The accident let to the death of 12 and wounded a further 18 people.

Donetsk regional officials blamed pro-Russian rebels but a report stated rebel leaders had denied involvement.

Vyacheslav Abroskin, head of the Donetsk regional interior ministry, said it appeared the target had been a roadblock set up close to the nearby town of Volnovakha but the attack had gone wrong.