Parliament Speaker: Ukrainian state agencies damage credibility of own statements

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.

Papuashvili was responding to a statement by Alexei Danilov, the Secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine, who on Monday said Hungary had been informed in advance by Russia about preparations for an upcoming attack by its troops, and also wanted to seize a portion of the territory of Ukraine.

Unfortunately, we have been hearing such allegations lately. We have heard accusations against Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, now we hear one about Hungary. How do you imagine accusing a NATO member country of having ties with Russia?” Papuashvili responded.

Unfortunately, this undermines the credibility of the statements of Ukrainian state agencies, and as a result, we see that there is no longer a reaction in the society,” the head of the Georgian legislative body added.

On Monday, following Ukrainian intelligence’s claims about alleged talks between Russia and Georgia over re-export of Russian goods to third countries, Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said the Georgian Government “would like to ask” Ukrainian authorities to take a “responsible approach” to relations established between the nations.

The claims follow similar comments from some Ukrainian authorities and officials about Georgia being used to circumvent international sanctions placed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine since the hostilities broke out in February.