Defence Ministry rejects claims on “free” 2008 handover of Buk missile system from Ukraine
In its response to the claims by unspecified “experts and individual media outlets”, the Ministry said the Georgian Defence Forces had received the Buk system in 2007 at the cost of “several million dollars”. Photo: MOD of Georgia
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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.
In its response to the claims by unspecified “experts and individual media outlets”, the Ministry said the Georgian Defence Forces had received the Buk system in 2007 at the cost of “several million dollars”.
This [purchase] was done under a classified agreement, which is why we are deprived of the opportunity to specify more details", the statement said.
The Ministry also pointed out “tens of millions of dollars were also paid by the Ministry of Defence in 2017 for the purchase of Javelin anti-tank systems from the USA”.
The comments follow the article by Embassy charge d'affaires Andriy Kasyanov, which on Monday said Ukrainian authorities had asked Tbilisi to aid the country’s anti-air and anti-tank defences by handing the Buk system back and also sending the portable Javelin hardware, a request he said had been rejected by the Georgian Government.
The Georgian Defence Ministry stressed the Government was “firmly continuing its humanitarian and political support” for Ukraine, and pointed to packages of humanitarian aid sent to Ukraine since the start of the conflict last year.
It also highlighted the latest batch of the aid that delivered power generators to Ukraine last month following a request by the country’s authorities, but added the Government had declared its “clear position” against facilitating delivery of weapons or dual-purpose equipment to Ukraine, for the risk of seeing Georgia becoming involved in the conflict.
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.
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.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili all Monday said while his Government respected sovereignty of all countries its work was motivated by national interest in the first place, in comments on critical claims by some Ukrainian officials on an alleged lack of support from Georgia following Russia's invasion of the former.
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.
Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister Thea Tsulukiani on Saturday told the media the Georgian Government would not allow the country to be involved in the military confrontation.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said “maintaining peace” in the country would be “one of the main challenges” for authorities in 2023.
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.
Archil Talakvadze, the Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker, on Monday said Georgia would “never become a place for circumventing the sanctions” imposed on Russia by the international community for its invasion of Ukraine.
Giorgi Amilakhvari, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday criticised CNN and its host Christiane Amanpour for having spread “fake information” last week on alleged exports of sanctioned goods to Russia through Georgia.
The Georgian Defence Ministry on Sunday issued a statement rejecting the media claim on the misappropriation of budget funds and explaining that the purchase of various items by the Ministry had been carried out under the law.