Kakha Kaladze, Secretary General of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party and Tbilisi Mayor, has sharply criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for imposing sanctions on Georgian officials, accusing him of prioritising “foreign interests” over his own country.
The sanctions, announced earlier this week, target 20 Georgian officials and citizens, including Kaladze, Bidzina Ivanishvili—founder of the Georgian Dream party—and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. The measures block their entry to Ukraine, freeze their financial assets, and restrict business dealings in the country.
Zelenskyy’s move comes amid strained relations between the two countries, heightened by Georgia’s recent decision to delay its European Union accession talks until 2028.
Kaladze responded on Friday, denouncing the sanctions while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to supporting Ukrainian refugees in Georgia.
“My answer is very simple. I do not wish even an enemy to be in the position he is in today. He does not belong to himself, his family, or, most importantly, Ukraine and its people. He serves the interests of another country,” Kaladze said in a statement.
The Tbilisi mayor expressed confidence that Ukrainians would “soon realise whose support has led to the misfortunes happening in Ukraine today,” in a pointed critique of the Ukrainian leader’s policies.
