PM Kobakhidze accuses Ukrainian MP of pushing for ‘second front’ in Georgia

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has accused Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko of pressuring Tbilisi to open a “second front” in the Russia-Ukraine war, labeling his actions as “anti-Georgian.”

Speaking in Yerevan on Thursday, Kobakhidze alleged that Goncharenko had previously called for Georgia to engage in the conflict, suggesting that his recent advocacy at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) was motivated by dissatisfaction with Tbilisi’s neutral stance.

His remarks followed a PACE vote urging the Georgian Government to hold early elections and release detainees from recent anti-government protests. The resolution postponed the ratification of Georgia’s delegation’s full credentials until the Assembly’s April session.

Kobakhidze asserted that certain Ukrainian politicians had directly called for opening a second front in Georgia as early as 2022, a position he said was rejected by both the government and the public.

“You remember that at the same time as the radical [domestic] opposition demanded in 2022 that we send volunteers to Ukraine, join the sanctions, etc., Ukrainian MPs directly spoke about opening a second front with Russia. There were direct calls in this regard,” Kobakhidze said.

He accused Goncharenko of attempting to distance himself from past statements and insisted that his government remained focused on safeguarding national interests.

In response to the PACE resolution, the Georgian delegation announced it would suspend participation in the Assembly, condemning the decision as “totally unfair”.