Parliament official slams Ukrainian MP for statements “harmful to friendship” between countries
In his response, Talakvadze said he would not make “any comment” on the claim but added the remarks in the interview showed “how far removed [Arakhamia] is from the issues and actual interests of the Ukrainian people at war”. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Monday slammed David Arakhamia, a member of the ruling People's Servant party in the Ukrainian Rada, by saying it was “sad” to see a high-ranking official of a country “in a severe war find time to make statements on Georgian internal political issues”.
Talakvadze’s reaction followed a comment by Arakhamia, a politician of Georgian descent, who on Sunday told the Georgian-based Mtavari Arkhi channel he had intended to attend the funeral of the acclaimed Georgian film actor Vakhtang Kikabidze after his passing away in January, but was warned by the "American officials" of potential “issues” he could face if he crossed the border into Georgia.
The remark came after a series of spats between Arakhamia and some other Ukrainian officials on the one hand, and Georgian Government officials on the other, on the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine and accusations of a lack of support from Georgia to Ukraine.
In his response, Talakvadze said he would not make “any comment” on the claim but added the remarks in the interview showed “how far removed [Arakhamia] is from the issues and actual interests of the Ukrainian people at war”.
When we continue to provide unconditional and firm support to Ukraine, when the Georgian Government [and] the entire public stands with Ukraine, a political person, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament finds time to make statements on the internal political processes in Georgia and statements that harm the friendship between Georgia and Ukraine”, he said.
Talakvadze also stressed the public in Georgia was “united” with the Government in the efforts to “become a member of the European family”, in reference to ongoing work to meet the European Union conditions to grant the country its membership candidate status, and added “nobody should have the illusion that they can separate the Government [and] the public”.
Revaz Javelidze, the Head of the Georgian Government Administration, on Friday said the country’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili had instructed the Ministry of Economy to purchase generators for providing them as aid to Ukraine “in the shortest terms possible”.
Gia Volski, a ruling party MP and the vice speaker of the Georgian parliament, on Tuesday called on the United States and the European Union to “distance themselves” from statements from some Ukrainian government figures about the need to “see Georgia engage in war” amid the Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said the “only interest” of “certain representatives” of the Ukrainian Government was to “somehow turn Georgia into a second front” amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Friday slammed David Arakhamia, a member of the ruling People's Servant party in the Ukrainian Rada of Georgian descent, for making “unfriendly” statements towards Georgia.
Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, on Monday condemned comments by David Arakhamia, a member of the ruling People's Servant party in the Ukrainian Rada, on Georgia’s domestic politics as a “violation and interference in the internal affairs” of the country.
The Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday called on Ukrainian authorities to hand Zurab Adeishvili, the wanted former Prosecutor General and Justice Minister of Georgia, and Gia Lortkipanidze, the wanted former Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, over to Georgia in response to comments by a Ukrainian official on domestic Georgian politics.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday wished Ukraine peace, an end to the conflict with Russia “soon” and reintegration of its territories in his Victory Day messages commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany by Allied forces in World War II.