"We have tolerated Zelensky's insults to Tbilisi for a long time"
Caliber.Az's interview with Georgian experts

INTERVIEWS  27 April 2022 - 11:03

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky's recent press conference has caused another wave of discontent in Georgia.

In a reply to a question of an Azerbaijani journalist, Zelensky said he "understands Baku's reserved stance in supporting Kyiv." He, in particular, said that Azerbaijan supports Ukraine in different ways, noting that the Ukrainian side received both humanitarian and medical aid from Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, answering a question of the Georgian TV channel Imedi about the possibility of the return of a recalled Ukrainian ambassador to Tbilisi, Zelensky made it clear that this would not happen without a fundamental change in the actions of the Georgian authorities, which now, in his opinion, do not demonstrate a friendly attitude toward Ukraine.

"We will definitely return the ambassador to Georgia if we feel the friendship from the leaders of your state," the Ukrainian president said.

The relations between Kyiv and Tbilisi seemed to thaw only a few days ago, after the Georgian parliamentary delegation’s visit to Ukraine, but the confrontation has risen again. A Georgian political analyst, Zurab Kadagidze, told Caliber.Az that the Ukrainian-Azerbaijani relations are a sovereign right of the two states, dictated by their national interests.

"My critical thoughts on Zelensky's undeserved assessment, who criticized Georgia amid the gratitude for Azerbaijan's support, are not caused by attempts to reconsider the Ukrainian-Azerbaijani relations, but by a simple comparative context.

If the volume of humanitarian aid from Baku is acceptable to Mr. Zelensky, why did he criticize the allegedly insufficient volume of humanitarian aid from Tbilisi, although previously the Ukrainian side was satisfied with its volume? Especially since Georgia has supported Ukraine on all international platforms!

Unfortunately, tendentious interests are manifested here, confirmed by the statement of Mr. Arestovich, that "the Georgian authorities are not able to wage war against Russia". It turns out that a second front should be opened in Georgia, 20% of whose territory is occupied by Russia! The illogical and unfriendly statements of individual representatives of the Ukrainian government, which give rise to many unanswered questions, is offensive," Kadagidze says.

Another Georgian expert Edisher Gvenetadze told Caliber.Az that Zelensky is under the influence of the people who surround him and who are members of the United National Movement.

"Zelensky says he is not satisfied with Georgia, despite the fact that our country has sent the largest humanitarian cargo of 400 tons to Ukraine and sheltered 30,000 refugees. However, the Ukrainian authorities have sheltered natives of Georgia, who committed crimes in their homeland and were found guilty.

The current government of Ukraine demonstrates irresponsibility towards Georgia, accusing us of supplying weapons to Russia, but does not specify which state is responsible for that.

Zelensky is hostile to Georgia. Some forces want to drag Georgia into a war. It would be a catastrophe for us, because we have been through several wars for the last 30 years, which have caused enough trouble for us
I do not understand the ill-considered policy of Zelensky and his office towards us. We have long tolerated insults to the Georgian authorities from Zelensky and his political friends, but there is a limit to everything. Zelensky and the current Ukrainian authorities are ungrateful, which is the saddest thing, and are under the influence of Saakashvili's supporters in Ukraine," Gvenetadze said.

Caliber.Az