Ruling party MP accuses Ukrainian diplomat of “provocative statements” over arms provision
MP Gia Tsagareishvili said the Georgian Government was ensuring support for Ukraine despite “continuous criticism” from the latter. Photo: Parliament press office
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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.
Tsagareishvili’s response came after Kasyanov’s article for European Pravda on Monday said his Government had asked Tbilisi 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 as aid for its ongoing conflict with Russia.
The diplomat also said Ukrainian authorities had requested Javelin anti-tank systems purchased for Georgian Defence Forces from the United States over the recent years, and claimed the move had been agreed with Washington, which in turn would provide newer systems to Georgia following the handover. The charge d’affaires added the Georgian Government had “strongly rejected” the requests.
Kasyanov also said Kyiv had “never attempted to drag Georgia into the war” with Russia - a claim made by Georgian authorities in response to requests of military aid from their Ukrainian counterparts.
In his reply to the article, Tsagareishvili stressed “any such statement is provocative and does not contribute to friendly, partnership relations”, noting Tbilisi was suffering “unfriendly attitude from Kyiv in response to continuous support” amid the war.
The MP said Georgia had been standing by Ukraine since the first days of the conflict. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
The MP also reminded Ukrainian authorities of the recent aid provision of power generators by Georgia, the Government’s “steadfast support in all international platforms” for the country, and aid and support worth “millions of lari” for the more than 30,000 Ukrainian citizens stranded in Georgia.
He also said Tbilisi was supporting Ukraine “despite many people [from Ukraine] trying to interfere in Georgia’s domestic affairs [and] despite [the imprisoned former President] Saakashvili’s clandestine return to Georgia via Odesa Port of Ukraine [in 2021, with the aim] to overthrow the Government”.
Instead of explanations why Saakashvili entered the country, the Georgian Government is receiving continuous criticism [from Kyiv]”, the MP said in reference to the former President’s current status as a Ukrainian citizen.
The Georgian lawmaker also reiterated the Government's ongoing “refrain” from making critical responses to Ukraine until the country was at 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.
The Georgian Embassy in Ukraine has handed over 25 power generators to authorities in the country in the latest aid package sent from Georgia amid the ongoing military conflict, the Georgian Ministry of Economy announced on Friday.
The Georgian government on Tuesday said it was extending the assistance programme for Ukrainian nationals stranded in Georgia by the ongoing war in their country to May 1 next year.
Andrei Kasyanov, the Temporarily Representative of the Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia, on Friday expressed his gratitude to authorities of Georgia for their support on international forums and for assistance to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war.
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.
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.
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”.
Kelly Degnan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Monday said Georgia had “done many things” in support of Ukraine in the ongoing Russian invasion of the country, particularly noting the humanitarian dimension of the assistance provided by Georgian authorities.
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.
Archil Talakvadze, the Georgian Parliament’s Vice Speaker, on Wednesday rejected the comment of Andriy Kasyanov, the Ukrainian Charge D'affaires in Georgia, on plans for evacuating Ukrainian nationals from Georgia as “removed from reality”, and said the Government was doing “everything it can” to support Ukraine in the ongoing war with Russia.
Citizens opposition party MP Aleko Elisashvili on Wednesday called on the Ukrainian Government to replace Andrii Kasianov, the country’s Charge D'affaires in Georgia, following an interview in which the diplomat said his office could facilitate evacuation of Ukrainian nationals from Georgia in case of “threats” from a “mass influx” of Russian citizens in the country.