Kobakhidze slams President for appearing in Parliament with Ukrainian diplomat in 2022

Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday slammed the country’s President Salome Zourabichvili for appearing in the state legislature in 2022, for her annual report, with Andriy Kasyanov, the former charge d’affaires of Ukraine to Georgia, shortly after Kyiv’s “unacceptable” move to recall its Ambassador from the country. 

 

In his comments amid the ongoing impeachment procedures against Zourabichvili, launched by the GD for alleged violation of constitution by the President for her unauthorized EU trip last month, Kobakhidze claimed Zourabichvili’s decision last year marked “difference” in foreign policy priorities of the Government and the President, and was also “disrespectful” to the constitution, as Kasyanov’s appearance came “without notifying the Parliament Speaker”. 

 

Kobakhidze reiterated if Tbilisi imposed sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine, as requested by Kyiv, or accepting to send volunteers from Tbilisi airport, would have caused “grave consequences” for Georgia. 

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had provided the reasons behind his decision last year to recall the Ambassador, who has not been present so far.