Ruling party head expresses “full solidarity” with Ukrainian people, rebukes Ukrainian Gov’t stance in bilateral relations
Kobakhidze’s comment follows the controversy over the absence of a Georgian representation from a planned event in Ukraine on Friday to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country, where dignitaries from Ukraine’s partner states have been invited. Photo: Georgian Dream Press Office
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Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday expressed “full solidarity” of the Georgian Government with the Ukrainian people amid the ongoing war in the country, while saying the Ukrainian Government’s stance towards its Georgian counterpart “prevented” the latter from “participating in official formats” in support of the country.
Kobakhidze’s comment follows the controversy over the absence of a Georgian representation from a planned event in Ukraine on Friday to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country, where dignitaries from Ukraine’s partner states have been invited.
Georgian authorities have confirmed their absence from the event, with ruling Georgian Dream party MP Irakli Zarkua on Monday saying the stances of Ukrainian officials in their “calls for Georgia to open the second front [of the ongoing war]” and other examples left “no space for diplomatic relations”.
In his remarks over the matter, Kobakhidze joined the remarks, saying the position of the Ukrainian officials on the latest developments around Georgia’s imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili and their “calls to open a second front amid the Russian invasion” “hinder relations”, a development he called “unfortunate”.
When they directly call on the Georgian people, Georgia, to [open] the second front, when they spread completely disgraceful lies on the Georgian Government ‘killing’ Mikheil Saakashvili [and] ‘torturing’ him [...] When the Government of a country at war is engaged in spreading such lies, it is absolutely incredible”, Kobakhidze said.
“When we are directly called to [open] the second front, an official visit [to Ukraine] under such conditions is unthinkable”, the party Chair added.
We express our full solidarity with the Ukrainian people, and this is expressed not only in words, but also in specific actions, acts of support. As for the position of the Ukrainian Government, their position does not allow us to participate in official formats, which is very unfortunate”, the GD official concluded.