PM ‘Concerned over Reports of Military Aggression’ in Ukraine

Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili said on August 29 that he is “extremely concerned about reports of direct military aggression in eastern Ukraine.”

“Everyone should respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as its right to establish order and secure full protection of rights and freedoms of each citizen of Ukraine and their dignified future on the entire territory of Ukraine,” reads PM’s written statement.

“The international community should not allow large-scale conflict in Europe and forceful change of borders. We should spare no effort to establish peace and stability in Ukraine. We reiterate firm support to Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity in its internationally recognized borders. We believe that existing difficult situation should be overcome based on this principle,” reads the statement.

Speaking to journalists in Ankara, where he attended inauguration of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, PM said on August 29: “What is happening in Ukraine is completely inadmissible and unacceptable. The entire international community should spare no effort to restore peace and stability in Ukraine.”

“On our part, we are assisting Ukraine as we can, be it humanitarian assistance or something else. Few days ago I sent healthcare minister [Davit Sergeenko], who will study problems on the ground and then we will decide what kind of assistance we can provide – to help with medicines, to bring wounded citizens for treatment in Georgia or something else,” Garibashvili told journalists while visiting Georgian embassy in Ankara.

State minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, Alexi Petriashvili, condemned “Russia’s open aggression against Ukraine” and said that this “extremely dangerous process” will affect the entire international security. 

President Giorgi Margvelashvili also expressed concern over developments in Ukraine in a statement on August 27 and Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze condemned “military aggression” in Ukraine.

Some opposition UNM lawmakers criticized the Foreign Minister, President and the PM for not even mentioning Russia in their statements.