Parliament Vice Speaker: Ukrainian Presidential adviser’s statement on Georgian Gov’t an “affront”
In his remarks over the matter, Volski accused the Ukrainian official of either “continuing the policy of [Georgia’s] opposition United National Movement party” or “practically failing to see what is happening around Ukraine and in the region”. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Gia Volski, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Thursday said the statement of the Ukrainian Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak about the Georgian Government’s stance over the war in Ukraine “could be assessed as an affront”.
The response comes after Podolyak on Wednesday said “even after ten and a half months of the war, the Georgian Government does not understand whose side it should be on”, in reference to the ongoing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.
In his remarks over the matter, Volski accused the Ukrainian official of either “continuing the policy of [Georgia’s] opposition United National Movement party” or “practically failing to see what is happening around Ukraine and in the region”.
Podolyak's statement is an affront. If he did not understand which side Georgia stands after the country made such important decisions regarding Russia - such as the appeal to the International Criminal Court [and support for] the exclusion of Russia from a number of international organisations, he either continues the policy of the United National Movement in vain, or practically practically does not see what is happening around Ukraine and in the region”, the Parliament official said.
Volski also highlighted a series of humanitarian assistance provided by the Georgian Government to Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
We don't have a tank to deliver to Ukraine, but we do have generators and some humanitarian aid resources that we deliver. [...] We have the resources to help the Ukrainian people living in Georgia, to give their children the opportunity to study at school and to finance their teachers”, he said in reference to aid packages approved for Ukraine and support measures adopted for Ukrainian nationals in Georgia since the start of the war.
Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee, on Wednesday said the Georgian Government had stated “very clearly” and “from the beginning” its position on support for Ukraine “in everything” except transfer of weapons to the country amid its defence from the ongoing Russian invasion.
Givi Mikanadze, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday criticised Ben Hodges, the former Commander of the United States Armed Forces in Europe, for an “insulting” statement on the position of the Georgian Government on Ukraine, and said the comments were “harmful” to the reputation of Georgia.
Irakli Kadagishvili, the Chair of the Rules and Procedural Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, on Tuesday said the charge d'affaires of Ukraine to Georgia, Andriy Kasyanov’s “shocking” statement on Tbilisi’s refusal to provide arms for Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia had been instructed by Ukrainian Government, as the diplomat would not make such statements “independently”.
Gia Tsagareishvili, an MP of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday accused Andriy Kasyanov, the charge d'affaires of Ukraine to Georgia, of making “provocative statements” over Tbilisi’s refusal to provide arms for Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.
Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister Thea Tsulukiani on Saturday told the media the Georgian Government would not allow the country to be involved in the military confrontation.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Sunday said steps taken by the Georgian Government over the past year had been “not only correct, but also had no alternative” and allowed it to “maintain peace and tranquillity” in the country.