Georgia won’t join the sanctions against Russia
On February 25Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili said that Georgia will not join the international sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and that his visit to Ukraine would be “worthless.”
The chairman of the United National Movement, Nika Melia, described the Prime Minister’s statement as “a collaborative action for Ukraine, Georgia and the entire international order at this crucial time.” He said :”I want to make it clear that the Russian puppet regime in Georgia does not reflect the position of the Georgian people.”
Irakli Gharibashvili was also criticized by Natia Mezvrishvili, a member of former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia’s party for Georgia. Responding to the Prime Minister’s statement that his decisions were based on Georgia’s “national interests”, Mezvrishvili said that “the GD has decided to pursue an anti-national policy under the guise of the same words.”
Salome Samadashvili, a member of the party Lelo, said that in the fight between Russia and the free world, Georgia has a government that is on the side of Russia. According to her, “Irakli Gharibashvili is waiting for the fall of Kyiv because the victory of Ukraine means the end of Ivanishvili’s regime in our country.”
Public Defender Nino Lomjaria wrote on Facebook that “the current statements of the Prime Minister of Georgia and his pathos do not express my position. Georgians do not leave friends in trouble,” she said.
Responding to Gharibashvili’s statement on his arrival in Ukraine, Ukrainian Rada member Oleksiy Honcharenko said, “When the war is over and passenger planes fly over us instead of troops, you still can not to come”
The Georgian government has allocated 1 million GEL to help Ukraine
The government of Georgia allocated GEL 1 million from the Government Reserve Fund to assist the population who are affected by the ongoing events in Ukraine.
The humanitarian cargo sent to Ukraine on February 28 includes emergency medical supplies, more than 30 types of medicines, oxygen concentrators and other humanitarian aid items. Ukraine will receive humanitarian aid sent from Georgia via Lublin (Poland).
Rallies in support of Ukraine are being held in Tbilisi
Georgian citizens once again expressed their solidarity with the Ukrainian people in the streets of the capital On February 25. The protesters also demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister, Irakli Gharibashvili, after he said that Georgia would not join the international sanctions against Russia.
Before the rally, citizens expressed dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister’s statement via Facebook and wrote that Irakli Gharibashvili did not express their position as ordinary citizens. Protesters first gathered in front of the government chancellery and then moved to parliament.
The demonstrations are still ongoing.
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