Ukrainian Presidential Advisor’s “absurd” accusations “damaging relations” - Georgian PM
In his comments on the remark to the press, Garibashvili criticised its author and said “no one” would be allowed to negatively affect relations between Georgia and Ukraine. Photo: Government Administration
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Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili on Saturday rejected the “absurd accusations and insults” about his Government’s stance on the Ukraine war from the Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych, saying the statements were “damaging relations” between the two nations.
The Government head was responding to a comment by Arestovych, who on Thursday said Georgian citizens would “evaluate” their Government’s “policies and statements” in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine “at elections”.
In his comments on the remark to the press, Garibashvili criticised its author and said “no one” would be allowed to negatively affect relations between Georgia and Ukraine.
The person you are referring to [Arestovych] is an insult himself. I do not want to talk too much and make comments. It is unfortunate that such absurd accusations and insults damage our main relationship with our Ukrainian people. However, I assure everyone that no one will be able to ruin our relations with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters,” the PM said.
Garibashvili stressed “politicians come and go” to highlight the temporary nature of individuals in power compared to relations between nations, and highlighted Georgia ranked first among 190 countries in humanitarian aid sent to Ukraine via mail during the conflict as a demonstration of his Government’s solidarity with the country under the assault.
On Thursday, Arestovych addressed the Georgian Government in comments on the country’s positions on the war, saying: “Let me tell you something [...] the Georgian people will evaluate the Georgian Government’s policies and statements [amid the war in Ukraine] during the elections.”
The comment followed rounds of controversy between authorities of the two countries since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with some Ukrainian officials making accusations on Georgia allowing a smuggling of goods to enable Russia to circumvent international sanctions imposed on the Kremlin for the attack.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also recalled his Ambassador from Georgia and Morocco in March, citing their failure to obtain imposition of sanctions of Russia or supply of weapons to Ukraine amid the war as the cause for the moves.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Friday said comments by Oleksiy Arestovych, the Advisor to the Ukrainian President, on Georgian Government’s policies in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine were “unfortunate”.
Providing military assistance to Ukraine and opening a second front in Georgia in the war are the two questions the Georgian Government cannot be expected to take part in, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said on Thursday in an interview with the Georgian Public Broadcaster.
The Georgian Government has a “principled position” on not allowing “any legal entity or individual” to use the territory of Georgia to circumvent international sanctions imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Wednesday.
Comments by Ukrainian Presidential advisor Oleksiy Arestovych confirm that if the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili were in power in Georgia, the country would be embroiled in a war, Thea Tsulukiani, the Georgian Vice Prime Minister and Culture Minister, said on Tuesday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili congratulated the military on Saturday with the Georgian Defence Forces Day by thanking servicemembers for their service and celebrating their “most important” job.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Saturday congratulated servicemembers of the Georgian Defence Forces on the annual celebration by noting the “great honour” of being their Commander-in-Chief.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Friday told the United States-based National Public Radio it was “important” the US offer “outspoken” support to Georgia and Moldova while offering help to Ukraine in its defence against the ongoing Russian invasion.
Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Archil Talakvadze on Monday said reports in Ukrainian media on talks between Russia and Georgia over re-export of Russian goods to third countries were “unfounded and incorrect”.
The Georgian Government would like to ask Ukrainian authorities to take a “responsible approach” to relations established between the nations, Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Monday following claims about alleged talks between Russia and Georgia over re-export of Russian goods to third countries.
Andrei Kasyanov, the Charge d'affaires of Ukraine in Georgia, was summoned on Monday to the Georgian foreign office over the claims of the Intelligence Service of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine about alleged talks between Russia and Georgia over re-export of Russian goods to third countries.
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday congratulated media professionals on the World Press Freedom Day and pointed out the country’s media was “pluralistic and free” with “all conditions created” for the strengthening and further development of the field.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday said Ukrainian state agencies were “damaging their own credibility” with statements about Russia’s ties with countries like Georgia and Hungary around the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The Secretary of the Security Council of Ukraine has voiced a “wish to open a second front” of the war with Russia in Georgia and Moldova, Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Friday in comments at the Parliament.