Ruling party MP: Ukrainian diplomat’s arms request statement an attempt to drag Georgia into war
The Georgian MP said the 2008 handover of the system had been a purchase for the Georgian Defence Forces, making the system “the property of Georgia”. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
Tweet 
Share
Givi Mikanadze, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday called a comment by Andriy Kasyanov, a representative of the Ukrainian Embassy to Georgia, on Ukraine’s request of a missile system delivery from Georgia “another attempt to drag Georgia into the war” in the country.
Mikanadze was responding to an article published on Monday in Ukrainian media, where the diplomat said his Government had asked their Georgian counterparts to hand over the Buk surface-to-air missile system sent from Ukraine to Georgia during the latter’s 2008 war with Russia back to the country to aid its ongoing military operations against the Russian invasion.
The Georgian MP said the 2008 handover of the system had been a purchase for the Georgian Defence Forces, making the system “the property of Georgia”.
This could be another attempt to somehow involve Georgia in this war. Once again, we categorically and clearly say that no attempt where Georgia can appear as a party to this war will be successful”, Mikanadze added, stressing “no step can be taken by our Government” with a risk of becoming embroiled in the conflict.
The lawmaker stressed the Government would continue to support Ukraine in “political and humanitarian” dimensions but noted “we will first ensure that our country is not drawn into hostilities and that peace is ensured”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said the Georgian Government had managed to provide “full solidarity” to Ukraine in its defence from the ongoing Russian invasion while ensuring security of its own citizens.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday highlighted the links between Ukrainians and Georgians in understanding the “cost of peace”, in his end-of-year message on the work of his office.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday reaffirmed his Government's support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in its ongoing war with Russia, as well as for seeing an end to the war “in the shortest time possible”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday noted the “difficulty” of the past year on the international scene and noted developments throughout 2022 had compelled the country’s Government to ensure efforts in territorial integrity, expansion of partnerships and promotion of peace, security and prosperity in the neighbourhood.
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.
The Georgian Defence Ministry on Tuesday rejected claims in domestic media that said a Buk surface-to-air missile system had been handed over by Ukraine to the country “free of charge” in 2008, following an article by Ukraine’s charge d’affaires who said his Government had asked their Georgian counterparts to hand the system back to aid Ukraine’s efforts in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
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”.
People's Power, a public movement established by former ruling Georgian Dream party MPs who exited the team in June, on Wednesday called on the United States’ Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan to deny or confirm Ukrainian diplomat Andriy Kasyanov’s claims on an arms exchange request between his country, the US and Georgia.
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 Kobakhidze, the Head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday called “shameful” the recent statement of Andriy Kasianov, the Ukrainian Charge D'affaires in Georgia, on possible evacuation of Ukrainians stranded in Georgia due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, in case of resumption of flights between Georgia and Russia.
Irakli Chikovani, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday castigated Andriy Kasyanov, the Ukrainian Charge D'affaires in Georgia, for having “gone beyond all diplomatic framework” with his comment on a possible evacuation of Ukrainian nationals in Georgia in case of an inflow of Russian citizens and “subsequent threats” to the former.