Parliament Speaker to Ukrainian counterpart: Georgian Gov’t “united” in Ukraine support
"Georgia and Ukraine are indeed closely connected with strategic partnership now, and with historic friendship for centuries,” Papuashvili wrote. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili reaffirmed the Government’s support for Ukraine amid Russia’s military aggression in a letter to Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Chair of the Verkhovna Rada, on Saturday.
In comments to his counterpart, Papuashvili expressed his disappointment over Georgia’s solidarity with Ukraine having been recently “overshadowed” by “political speculation” and “utter disinformation campaigns”.
Photo: Shalva Papuashvili/Facebook
“The slander about Georgia’s alleged swerving from the path of Ukraine support is simply not true,” he asserted, pointing out Georgia had itself experienced a full-scale Russian military aggression [in 2008], with consequences lasting for decades.
The Parliament Speaker further highlighted Georgia’s efforts to support Ukraine on an international level, including at the United Nations General Assembly, the International Criminal Court and the Council of Europe, where the country denounced Russia’s attack.
Georgia and Ukraine are indeed closely connected with strategic partnership now, and with historic friendship for centuries,” Papuashvili wrote.
Russia started its military invasion on February 24, following President Putin’s announcement of the recognition of the independence of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk on February 21.
The international community has condemned the invasion, expressing support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Georgia is the only country in the world where the opposition is using the war unleashed by Russia in Ukraine for a campaign to damage this country, the ruling Georgian Dream party head Irakli Kobakhidze said on Friday.
The Lugar Laboratory, a Tbilisi-based research centre, is “transparent” and there are no question marks about it, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said on Friday in comments on recent allegations originating in Russia and concerning the biological research facility.
The situation in Ukraine is a “catastrophe” and the entire world must “wake up” and stand up to such events in the 21st century, Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights of the Georgian Parliament, told journalists on Thursday.
Georgia will continue to provide political support to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people at “absolutely all international platforms”, in addition to ensuring humanitarian assistance, Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, said on Wednesday.
The Georgian Parliament has handed over a humanitarian aid package to the Red Cross Society for forwarding the cargo to people in Ukraine affected by the war on the weekend.
The Ukrainian people “continue to fight for freedom and independence with special unity, strength and courage”, and have Georgia’s “unwavering” support and solidarity in the cause, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said on Monday.
The Georgian Government’s stance on not imposing sanctions against Russia remains unchanged and “no one can change” it, the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party head Irakli Kobakhidze said on Wednesday.
The opposition is trying to “artificially create” a situation to present the Georgian Government as not being in solidarity with Ukraine amid Russian invasion of the latter in an “absurd” attempt, Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights of the Georgian Parliament, told Imedi TV on Friday.
The Georgian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development on Friday issued a statement denying a media report on a Russian Air Force aircraft crossing Georgian airspace between Moscow and Yerevan.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili expressed his condolences over the death of three Georgian citizens in Ukraine on Saturday.
The ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition MPs on Sunday asserted the country was on a “peaceful path” and would not get involved in war, following remarks by Oleksiy Danilov, the Ukrainian Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, who said Georgia would “greatly help” Ukraine by opening military fronts against Russia to forcefully regain control over the occupied breakaway Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions.
Representatives of the Georgian parliamentary majority would be ready to visit Ukraine after technicalities for a trip to the country are resolved, Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Monday.
Georgia continues to support Ukraine, and a delegation of the country’s Parliament will be ready to visit Ukraine “when opportunity arises,” Parliament Vice Speaker Archil Talakvadze said on Tuesday.
A Georgian parliamentary delegation is expected to depart for Ukraine at the end of the week to observe the areas where Russian troops have committed atrocities, David Sergeenko, the Parliament Vice Speaker and MP of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Tuesday.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday confirmed his readiness to visit Ukraine on invitation from his Ukrainian counterpart Ruslan Stefanchuk, with the trip aimed to support the country amid the Russian invasion.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said on Wednesday he had offered the majority and opposition MPs to each select three delegates for a visit to Ukraine amid the war, but the opposition disagreed.
Papuashvili explained the opposition had requested the delegation to include one representative from each political party, which would create “logistic difficulties.”