GD Chair deems Ukrainian President's move over ex-president Saakashvili as offensive

11:41, 04.07.2023

“The move of the Ukrainian President over ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili is offensive. However, we wish to maintain a one-sided friendship with the Ukrainian government since Ukraine is at war,” said Irakli Kobakhidze, Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, answering a question from the GPB First Channel’s journalist.

“I don’t want to delve into specifics for one simple reason: it concerns the president of a country at war. Therefore, the Ukrainian government’s approach is offensive to us. It was particularly frustrating when our opponents admitted that high-ranking Ukrainian officials were complicit in the transfer of Saakashvili to Georgia, and now the same government wants Saakashvili’s return,” he stated.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday asked the Georgian Ambassador to leave Ukraine within 48 hours for consultations over ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili. He also called on the Georgian authorities “to hand over Ukrainian citizen Mykhailo Saakashvili to Ukraine for the necessary treatment and care.”

By - Elene Dobordjginidze

Politics

Irakli Kobakhidze

Mikheil Saakashvili

Volodymyr Zelenskyy