Ruling party head: gov’t could make “diplomatic response” to Czech ambassador’s allegations on exports to Russia

Irakli Kobakhidze, the chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said there could be a “diplomatic response” if an allegation by Czech ambassador Petr Mikyska about Czech-made products being exported from Georgia to Russia was confirmed to have been made.

Georgian news outlet Netgazeti on Wednesday quoted Mikyska as saying in 2022 the export of Czech products to Georgia had almost doubled compared to last year and claiming at least a part of the difference had gone to Russia.

In his remarks, Kobakhidze noted similar statements had been made by high-ranking officials of the Ukrainian government before the claims being retracted.

This is the first time I hear this statement [from the ambassador], but if this statement was made, it is really incredible. We have heard such statements from Ukrainian authorities in the past, and then they had to deny it themselves, and everyone absolutely denied such a thing”, Kobakhidze said.

“If such a statement was made, it needs to be responded to, because at the time, we responded to the statements of the Ukrainian high-ranking officials and they had to take their claims back. In this case we will have the same [diplomatic] response if this statement was [actually] made”, he concluded.