Ruling party head: diplomatic response to Ukraine’s sanctions on Georgian citizens is govt’s prerogative

Diplomatic response to the sanctions, imposed by Ukraine on the family members of the former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, is the prerogative of the Georgian government, Irakli Kobakhidze, the chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party said on Thursday.

Kobakhidze said “such steps” required a reaction, but he personally would not “follow” his emotions on the matter and would maintain a “one-sided” friendship with the Ukrainian government, “simply” because Georgia had “friendly relations” with the Ukrainian people and the country was in a “very difficult” situation amid the ongoing war.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday issued a decree sanctioning four Georgian citizens, which includes the blocking of assets, restriction of trade operations, flights and transportation on Ukraine’s territory, as well as suspension of economic and financial obligations, etc.