Georgia bought Buk missile systems at a minimal price with the help of President Yushchenko, Mikheil Saakashvili says
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
The third president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, stated that Georgia bought BUK systems from Ukraine at a minimal price with the help of President Victor Yushchenko, adding that refusing to transfer Buk systems to Ukraine is a shame.
According to Saakashvili, the government of Georgia, in addition to Ukraine, also refused to hand over javelins to Ukraine, which he said is a 'betrayal' that will remain a heavy stain in the history of Georgian-Ukrainian relations.
"It is a shame to refuse to give Buk systems to Ukraine!
With the help of President Yushchenko, we bought them at the minimum price at the time. When Yanukovych came to Ukraine, they even opened a case against Yushchenko for handing over the Buk to Georgia, and they did it at the behest of Russia. Moreover, the instructor - Colonel Mamchur, who taught us how to use the Buk, was killed by Russian agents in Rovno in 2017.
Now the Americans have given Ukraine a large number of missiles for Buk. Most importantly, with this step, we refused not only the Ukrainians, but also the Americans, to lend their javelins to Ukraine.
This is a betrayal, and episodes of such betrayal will remain a heavy stain in the history of Georgia-Ukraine relations," Mikheil Saakashvili wrote.
On January 9, Acting Ambassador of Ukraine Andrey Kasyanov said that Ukraine asked Georgia to return the anti-aircraft missile systems Buk which was supplied by Ukraine during the 2008 war.
Kasyanov's article was criticized by Georgian Dream members. MP Gia Volsky said that "billions have been paid" for this military equipment, and called Andriy Kasyanov "inadequate in his actions" . The Ministry of Defense of Georgia released a statement saying that Buk missile systems were purchased.
