Defence Minister highlights efforts to “further thaw” relations with Ukrainian authorities
In his response, Burchuladze told local media the Georgian Government had “repeatedly” tried to thaw its relations with the Ukrainian counterparts. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Georgian Minister of Defence Juansher Burchuladze on Thursday said the “narrative” produced by the Ukrainian authorities towards the Georgian Government was “not correct”.
Burchuladze was commenting on the statement of Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Head of the Ukrainian President's Office, who on Wednesday said “Georgian officials should change their tone, and if they cannot do it for some reasons, then reduce their public statements regarding Ukraine”.
In his response, Burchuladze told local media the Georgian Government had “repeatedly” tried to thaw its relations with the Ukrainian counterparts.
We have repeatedly tried to further thaw our personal relations with our Ukrainian brothers. I think the narrative produced towards us today is not correct”, the Georgian Defence Minister said.
The comments follow claims by representatives of Ukrainian authorities since the start of the Russian invasion of the country, who have alleged the Georgian Government facilitating use of Georgia's territory by Russian individuals and entities for bypassing Western sanctions imposed on Russia due to the invasion. The claims by Ukrainian officials have not been accompanied by evidence of the violations, whereas their Georgian counterparts have rejected the claims.
The 2022 Investment Climate Statements released by the United States Department of State on Thursday said the National Bank of Georgia and Georgian financial institutions were acting "fully in accordance" with the financial sanctions imposed by the United States and others on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.
Kelly Degnan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Tuesday said David Arakhamia, a member of the Ukrainian parliament, had not produced “any evidence” to support his allegations that the Georgian Government is involved in facilitating evasion of international sanctions placed on Russia for the invasion of Ukraine.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday highlighted the Government’s support for Ukraine "from the very first days" of its defence from the Russian invasion, stressing the humanitarian aid sent to the war-torn country and the political support for Ukraine in international formats.
The Georgian Embassy in Washington on Wednesday said the allegation by Ukrainian lawmaker David Arakhamia that Russian individuals and companies were using entities in Georgia to bypass Western sanctions were “completely false”, Reuters reported.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights of the Georgian Parliament, on Thursday slammed Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Head of the Ukrainian President's Office, for making “unsubstantiated” allegations towards Georgian authorities.
Georgia’s imprisoned former President Milkheil Saakashvili is a “historic criminal”, not a historic figure, ruling Georgian Dream party MP Rati Ionatamishvili said on Thursday in response to Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Head of the Ukrainian President's Office, who had commended Saakashvili as a “historic figure” whose arrest in Tbilisi last year was “unjustified”.
Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Friday slammed David Arakhamia, a member of the ruling People's Servant party in the Ukrainian Rada of Georgian descent, for making “unfriendly” statements towards Georgia.
Kakha Kaladze, the mayor of Tbilisi and the secretary general of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said it was “important to maintain peace and tranquillity” in the country and promote economic development, and stressed Georgia would “not open a second front” amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Thursday said his Government was doing its “utmost” in supporting Ukraine in its defence from the Russian invasion, considering the presence of Russian troops in Georgia’s occupied regions.