Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Committee on Human Rights, on Monday said “under no circumstances could Georgia allow itself to open a second front” of the ongoing war in Ukraine in the country.
Sarjveladze was commenting after Vano Merabishvili, a member of the United National Movement opposition party and the former Interior Minister, on Saturday told the Ukrainian media he was “ashamed” that “Georgia does not participate and is not on the side of Ukraine in this war”.
Under no circumstances can Georgia allow itself to open a second front in the country and thereby help Ukraine. In no case will this be a relevant and correct decision, a decision in line with the interests of Georgia”, the Parliament official said in his response.
“As for all other issues - starting with humanitarian aid and ending with political support [for Ukraine] - Georgia has never deviated from the main line [of ensuring aid] and therefore, whenever and wherever there is an opportunity, Georgia expresses its support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people”, he continued.
Sarjveladze stressed it was Georgia's “duty” to support Ukraine, but added “this does not mean that it would justify the opening of a second front in Georgia” as “it is our duty to protect Georgia from this”.
Of course, sooner or later, these intentions of Merabishvili were going to become known, because they [the domestic opposition] have completely different priorities on the agenda. They choose this path as a possible way to take some steps forward to take over the Government, even though it could be a disaster for Georgia”, he concluded.