Ukrainian Parliament official criticises Zelenskyy’s decision on Georgian Ambassador

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, the Chair of the Ukrainian Parliament’s Committee on Integration to the European Union, on Monday criticised the decision by the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to ask the Georgian Ambassador to leave Ukraine within 48 hours for consultations in Georgia concerning the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.

In her social media message, the Ukrainian official noted the decision was “another inappropriate word in diplomacy” from the Ukrainian leadership.

Can you tell me what kind of formula for undermining relations is this? First, our Ambassador [in Georgia] was recalled ‘for consultations’ more than a year ago. Then they [the Ukrainian Government] relieved our Ambassador. A new one has not been assigned or sent for over a year. Have you decided that this is how you can successfully influence changes in attitudes and policies without real tools in Georgia?”, Klympush-Tsintsadze said.

Have we found a real enemy state and are expelling its Ambassador? Ultimately, we ourselves are destroying relations with the state where full public support of Ukraine reigns, with a state that can be a partner, despite the complexity of relations”, the Ukrainian Parliament official concluded.

Zelenskyy on Monday called on the Georgian authorities to hand over Saakashvili to Ukraine for the “necessary treatment and care” and instructed the Ukrainian foreign office to summon the Georgian Ambassador to Ukraine, to “express our strong protest” and to ask him to leave Ukraine within 48 hours to hold consultations with his capital.