PM Gakharia: Georgian-Ukrainian ‘strategic partnership’ will not be put under question mark due to ‘irresponsible politicians’

Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia said now it would be important how the Ukrainian authorities, who consider the former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s appointment as their country's internal affair, will manage to keep him away ‘from interfering into Georgia’s internal affairs’. Photo: Mikheil Saakashvili's Facebook page

Agenda.ge, 09 May 2020 - 14:06, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated today that ‘the strategic partnership’ between Georgia and Ukraine will not be put under a question mark due to ‘certain irresponsible politicians’.

Giorgi Gakharia made the remarks amid the former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s recent appointment as the chair of the executive committee of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council.

PM Gakharia noted that although Georgia recalls its Ambassador to Ukraine Teimuraz Sharashenidze to Tbilisi for consultations, this does not threaten diplomatic relations with Ukraine. 

We will recall the ambassador only to consult on how to protect our strategic, brotherly relations with Ukrainian people from avanturist politicians, who, unfortunately, put at risk many things for their unclear personal ambitions and egoism”, Gakharia told journalists at Vake Park in central Tbilisi, where he paid tribute to the heroes of the World War II. 

He further underscored that now it would be important how the Ukrainian authorities, who consider Saakashvili’s appointment as their country's internal affair, will manage to keep him away ‘from interfering into Georgia’s internal affairs’.

The possibility of appointing Saakashvili in Ukraine had immediately caused concern among Georgian officials. Photo: Mikheil Saakashvili's Facebook

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Saakashvili as the chair of the executive committee of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council on May 7, hoping the latter would 'give impetus’ to the Council and help make ‘important changes' in Ukraine.

Initially, Saakashvili was offered the post of vice PM of Ukraine for reforms. However, his candidacy has been later withdrawn.

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, President Salome Zurabishvili and Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze had denounced Saakashvili's appointment in Ukraine due to his criminal charges. 

Mikheil Saakashvili, who served as Georgia’s third president from 2004 to 2007 and again from 2008 to 2013. In 2014 he was officially charged for his role in several crimes in Georgia however by the time his case went through court he was already in Ukraine.