Parliament Committee Chair: Ukrainian diplomat’s “shocking” statement on arms provision instructed by his Government
Georgia is a supporter of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, condemning Russian aggression, Kadagishvili said, adding the appeals for Georgia to provide Ukraine with weapons were “manipulations”, confirming that the Ukrainian authorities were interested in Georgia to appear as a “party” in the ongoing hostilities. Photo via Parliament of Georgia
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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”.
Kadagishvili’s comments followed the article by Kasyanov [on Monday], in which he said the Ukrainian authorities had asked Tbilisi to hand over the Buk missile system back, sent from Ukraine to Georgia during the latter’s 2008 war with Russia, as an aid for its ongoing conflict with Russia.
The diplomat said the Ukrainian government had also 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 upon with Washington, which in turn would provide newer systems to Georgia after the handover. The charge d’affaires added the Georgian Government had “strongly rejected” the requests.
In response to the article, Kadagishvili said Georgia had not received the Buk surface-to-air missile system free of charge, the country had purchased the system before the 2008 war, and noted the Javelin anti-tank systems had also been “officially” purchased from the US, with the latter’s “permission”, adding Georgia had paid “several tens of million” from the state budget for the system.
Georgia has Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions and thus the country has “different responsibilities”, compared to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member states. “Neither NATO nor anyone will protect us [Georgia], if something happens here, there is no one to defend us, except ourselves”, the Committee Chair emphasised.
Georgia is a supporter of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, condemning Russian aggression, Kadagishvili said, adding the appeals for Georgia to provide Ukraine with weapons were “manipulations”, confirming that the Ukrainian authorities were interested in Georgia to appear as a “party” in the ongoing hostilities.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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 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.
The Georgian Government’s constant task is to protect the national interests and needs of the country and its people, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Saturday, the Government Administration said.