Ruling party MP: Ukrainian diplomat’s arms request statement an attempt to drag Georgia into war

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”.