Vice PM: Ukraine’s decision to sanction Georgian citizens “another attempt” to involve country in hostilities

Thea Tsulukiani, Georgia’s vice prime minister and minister of culture, sport and youth, on Friday said the decision of the security council of Ukraine to impose sanctions on family members of Georgia’s former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili should be seen as “another attempt” to involve Georgia in hostilities amid the war in Ukraine.

In her remarks over the matter, Tsulukiani pointed out the head of the Ukrainian security council, Oleksiy Danilov, was the person who had earlier called on Georgia to get involved in the war against Russia.

The sanctions imposed by the Ukrainian authorities against Bidzina Ivanishvili and his family members is a decision of the security council. The head of this council is the person who called on our nation to get involved in the war and was not worried about the effect it would have on our generations”, Tsulukiani said. 

The minister deplored the fact of authorities of Ukraine - which she said “claims to be a friendly country” - making such “hostile” decisions.

Perhaps, this decision coming from the security council should be perceived as another attempt to involve Georgia in hostilities, but this will not happen. The main priority of our government in our country is peace”, Tsulukiani concluded. 

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday 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 and more.

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

Irakli Kobakhidze, the chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said a relevant diplomatic response to the sanctions was the prerogative of the Georgian government.