Georgian Ambassador to Ukraine on his recall to Tbilisi
On 25 May, the Georgian ambassador to Ukraine, Teimuraz Sharashenidze, spoke about his recall to Tbilisi following the appointment of Georgia’s former President Mikheil Saakashvili as the head of the Executive Reform Committee in Ukraine, reported georgiatoday.
Speaking on Saakashvili's appointment to the post, Sharashenidze said that he does not agree with the opinion that the Georgian embassy failed to act appropriately. “I communicated with the Ukrainian side at the highest level and we handed over a protest note. Recalling the ambassador for consultations has been chosen as a form of protest,” he said.
“[The] quarantine is over, and I came here for consultations, the reason is well known to you. Based on the newly created reality, we will discuss all the issues of cooperation between the two partner countries,” he commented on the reason for his summoning. He also noted that he does not know when he will return to Ukraine, as “It is not his decision” and added that the current events would not aggravate the Georgia-Ukraine relations.
On 7 May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Georgia’s former President Mikheil Saakashvili as the head of the Executive Reform Committee. After the decision was made public, Sharashenidze was summoned to Tbilisi for political consultations. Georgia’s diplomatic gesture sparked negative reactions from Ukrainian authorities. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Georgia not to make bilateral relations dependent on the Ukrainian reform process. Zelensky stated that this diplomatic act from Georgia was a “mistake” (Caucasus Watch reported).