Ukraine condemns violence against protesters in Georgia

Source: Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ukraine’s foreign ministry has issued a statement condemning the Georgian government’s actions to suppress peaceful rallies after it stalled talks on joining the European Union.  Thousands of Georgians took to the streets over the weekend in protest to the policies seen as contrary to Georgia’s European aspirations.

“The Georgian authorities must respect their citizens’ fundamental right to peaceful protest,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry emphasized in its stern statement,  calling the violence  unacceptable and warning of potential consequences.

The Ukrainian diplomacy criticized what it сalled the contradictory position by the Georgian government, which publicly supports European integration while, at the same time, taking measures reminiscent of a “Belarusian scenario.” This duality, the statement warned, undermines the country’s progress toward EU membership.

The statement also rejected Georgia’s  attempts to drag Ukraine into the fray arguing they are having something akin to what they called the “Ukrainian scenario.”

In a show of solidarity, Ukraine expressed support for Georgian diplomats who oppose the government’s retreat from European integration. Kyiv reiterated its commitment to the shared goal of advancing democracy and aligning with European values.