Ukrainian charge d'affaires thanks Georgian gov’t for “continued support”

Andriy Kasianov, the charge d'affaires of Ukraine in Georgia, on Friday thanked the Georgian government for extending its socioeconomic support programme for Ukrainian refugees stranded in the country by the war in their homeland, and welcomed the opening of an information centre for Ukrainian nationals at Tbilisi airport.

Kasianov said his office was “grateful to everyone who joins the practical support of the Ukrainian population, both in Ukraine and Georgia”, and expressed his gratitude for the extension of the support for Ukrainian citizens into next year, approved by Georgian authorities on Tuesday.

For us, it is not just dry data, but an opportunity for more than 30,000 Ukrainian citizens to spend a difficult winter in our brotherly and friendly Georgia”, said the Ukrainian diplomat while attending the opening ceremony of the information centre that will introduce services available to them to Ukrainian refugees.

Praising the role of the Georgia Red Cross Society in the opening of the centre - which will also ensure psychosocial assistance and, if necessary, provide hygiene items for primary use along with a recreational area for children - Kasianov said the Georgian office of the organisation had provided “crucial assistance” to Ukrainians since the launch of hostilities in the country in late February. 

He noted $1.3 million had been transferred for the needs of Ukrainian citizens affected by the war, along with one hundred tons of humanitarian cargo, thanks to the involvement of the Georgia Red Cross Society. 

These moves made it possible to provide Ukrainians with food, personal hygiene products, clothes and medication. Volunteers of the Georgian Red Cross Society and its president Natia Loladze, despite life-threatening risks, worked directly in Ukraine, helped the innocent civilian population to evacuate under Russian bombs and rocket attacks”, said Kasianov. 

The diplomat noted similar information centres were also scheduled to open in the western city of Kutaisi as well as Batumi airport in the Black Sea city and Larsi checkpoint with Russia in the north of the country.