Ukraine's Foreign Ministry urges Georgian authorities not to exploit topic of war in election campaign

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has urged the Georgian authorities not to exploit the Russo-Ukrainian war in their election campaign.

Source: a statement from the Foreign Ministry dated 10 October, as reported by European Pravda

Details: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemns the repeated attempts of the Georgian leadership to involve Ukraine in the internal political processes of its country on the eve of the parliamentary elections, which will be held on 26 October. Given the disdainful tone – once again – of the statements of the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze, we are forced to once again express the position of Ukraine," the statement reads.

The Foreign Ministry expressed disappointment that the Georgian authorities, mirroring Russia's actions, are attempting to restrict the involvement of civil society and human rights organisations in promoting the country's democratic development and maintaining a competitive electoral environment. They stated that the Georgian government has effectively "turned into a photocopier of the Kremlin".

"We must remind you of another truth that the Prime Minister of Georgia forgot to reveal. The refusal of the Georgian authorities to support international sanctions imposed against the Russian Federation in response to full-scale aggression against Ukraine, the restoration of direct air traffic with Russia, the cancellation of the visa regime introduced in the early 2000s, and the intensification of bilateral trade have returned Georgia to the format of economic and political dependence on Moscow," the statement added.

Additionally, the Foreign Ministry urged those "willing to reveal the truth" to recognise that the supply of power and gas in the liberated city of Kherson – despite being constantly under fire and facing systematic targeting of infrastructure by Russian forces – is currently more stable than in the everyday peaceful life of Tbilisi.

This remark is clearly a reaction to the actions of Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, which produced banners with photos of the destruction caused by Russia in Ukraine and, in contrast, "normal life" in Georgia as part of its election campaign. In addition, Georgia's Prime Minister Kobakhidze claimed that the banners "exposed the truth" about the war in Ukraine.

"Ukraine once again calls on the Government of Georgia to refrain from involving our state and citizens of Ukraine in the internal political processes of Georgia, as well as from fooling around with the blood and suffering of the Ukrainian people. We hope that the parliamentary elections in Georgia will be held in a peaceful and democratic manner, and the Georgian people will continue the strategic course of joining the EU and NATO," the Foreign Ministry concluded.

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