Georgia’s President voices support for Turkish counterpart

President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili has publically expressed support for his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan following last night’s failed attempt of a military coup against the Turkish government.

Margvelashvili voiced his support for Erdogan and the Turkish government late last night following an extraordinary session of the National Security Council (NSC) of Georgia, which was called as the events unfolded in Georgia's neighbouring country.

I express my personal support for President Erdogan. I am confident the unstable situation [in Turkey] will be overcome in the nearest time and our strategic partner country will return to normal life again. I would also like to calm the population of Georgia by telling them our country is not under any kind of threat," said Margvelashvili in his address.

Margvelashvili chaired the National Security Council's emergency meeting last night, which also involved civilian and military officials. Photo from the President’s press office.

Georgia's President – who chaired the National Security Council meeting – said Georgia was not implementing any special security measures following the events in Turkey but he advised Georgian citizens from travelling to Turkey while the situation remained tense. Georgia imposed border restrictions and an air traffic ban on travels to Turkey after the NSC meeting.

The NSC meeting last night was attended by high-ranking officials including Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, State Security Service Head Vakhtang Gomelauri, Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Mghebrishvili and Chief of the General Staff of Armed Forces Vakhtang Kapanadze.

Meanwhile officials from Georgia's Government reacted to the coup attempt shortly after the incident was reported in local and international media.

Prime Minister Kvirikashvili reacted to the developments by stressing it was "very important” for Georgia that the democratically elected government of Turkey was not under threat and noted stability in the country was crucial for Georgia.

Deputy Prime Minister Dimitri Kumsishvili and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikheil Janelidze announced measures taken by the Government to help and safeguard Georgian citizens in Turkey under the condition of martial law and curfew imposed by the local government as it battled against the coup attempt.