Georgian Officials React to Russia’s Attack on Ukraine
By Khatia Bzhalava
Friday, February 25, 2022
Georgian officials have responded to the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, expressing support and solidarity to Ukraine and its people. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has stated that the military attack on a sovereign country is unacceptable. He has called on the international community to apply all possible measures “to stop blatant violation of international order by Russia and prevent further military escalation.”
President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili has expressed solidarity to Ukraine, calling for a “halt of the military operations” in the country. “The Georgian nation is shocked by the Russian aggression in Ukraine. We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people,” the President tweeted.
Zourabichvili announced that she would represent Georgia in all the formats where the issue of Ukraine is being discussed.
“The issue of Ukraine is an issue for all of us and it is necessary for the voice of Georgia to be heard there as well. We are and will always be on the side of the peaceful path, but also on the side of upholding principles and that is what our unity should be!” said the President.
Zourabichvili also announced to sign a request from the Georgian Parliament to convene an extraordinary parliamentary session to express solidarity for Ukraine and support for its territorial integrity.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has also echoed the developments in Ukraine and stated that Georgia “stands with Ukraine in these difficult times.” He called on the international community to take effective steps to stop Russia from escalating into a full-scale conflict and ensure the protection of international norms.
Georgian foreign minister David Zalkaliani has called Russia’s military action against Ukraine ‘totally intolerable’. In a separate statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia has stated that Georgia is deeply concerned over Russia’s actions against Ukraine, noting that Russian-led hostilities undermine the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and also violate the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law, “which will carry heavy consequences not only for Ukraine but also for the entire international community”. The Ministry has urged Georgian citizens in Ukraine to follow recommendations of the Ukrainian government on security measures on the ground.
Georgian businesses and citizens have offered free accommodation to Ukrainian citizens in the country who are unable to return to Ukraine. Yesterday, several rallies were held in Georgia in support of Ukraine, including in Batumi, Kutaisi, and the capital Tbilisi. Protesters displayed Ukrainian flags in solidarity and stressed that rallies in support of Ukraine would be held daily.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a military operation in Donbas early Thursday, days after recognizing the self-proclaimed people’s republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. Soon after launching a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, explosions were reported across the country.
