Dear Ruslan, it is true that words must be carefully weighed. I wanted to weigh President Zelensky’s statement, which effectively expelled the Georgian ambassador to Ukraine—a diplomat who remained in bombed Kyiv until the very end, even when other countries closed their embassies and abandoned the city,” the Georgian Parliament Speaker, Shalva Papuashvili, responded to the statement of the Chairman of the Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk.

According to him, Georgia maintains a unique solidarity with the Ukrainian people due to its historical experience.

“I want to discuss President Zelensky’s decision to recall the Georgian ambassador to Ukraine due to Georgia’s refusal to send volunteers through state mobilization and engage directly in the war. This decision was accompanied by his statements accusing the Georgian government of torturing and attempting to kill Saakashvili, which reflects his earlier decision to shelter the former Georgian president. Additionally, Zelensky declared the Georgian Prime Minister and members of the government persona non grata, despite this government providing safe haven to tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees. We should also take into account the support of resolutions and decisions that are hostile to the Georgian people, supported by various Ukrainian delegations at international forums. In contrast, Georgian delegations have consistently shown decency towards Ukraine without hesitation.

Moreover, I want to address the statements from representatives of the Ukrainian government directly calling for Georgia to join the war. If the Ukrainian government had consistently considered its words and actions toward the Georgian people, neither my assessment nor your response would have been necessary. Georgia’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people is unique and rooted in our own historical struggles, which continue to this day. Because we are still fighting this struggle, we expect all foreign governments to choose their words regarding Georgia as carefully as we are expected to do for Ukraine.

Attacks and slander, in response to friendship, cannot be seen as dignity or gratitude. Friendship is mutual, and Georgia has been a pioneer in this friendship,” Papuashvili wrote.