Georgian PM urges Ukraine to reconsider ambassador recall decision

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has called on Ukraine to be the first to reconsider its unfriendly stance toward Georgia.

"Ukraine recalled its ambassador from Georgia on March 1, 2022, for two reasons: we did not impose bilateral sanctions against Russia, and we did not send armed volunteers by air with the government's consent. As a result, Ukraine made this extremely unfriendly decision. If Ukraine wants to reassess our relations, it should take the first step," Kobakhidze told reporters, Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media.

He also mentioned that officials in Kyiv had openly urged us to open a second front.

Kobakhidze highlighted that the Georgian government had similarly urged President Salome  Zourabichvili, who had referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a "hero" to reconsider her stance.

"We remain in a state of unilateral friendship with Ukraine," he noted.

Acting Chargé d'Affaires of Ukraine in Georgia Mykhailo Kharyshyn blamed Tbilisi for obstructing the process of restoring diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level. He also stated that Kyiv has no intention of extraditing former Georgian officials, including former Prosecutor General Zurab Adeishvili and former Deputy Interior Minister Giorgi Lordkipanidze, who are currently working in Ukraine's security agencies and are wanted by Georgian authorities.