Rada speaker “much disappointed” by Georgian parliament speaker’s refusal to visit Bucha: hard times reveal true friends

Ruslan Stefanchuk, chair of the Ukrainian state legislature, says that the refusal of the Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili to visit the war-torn Bucha and Irpin areas of Ukraine and calling the invitation “inappropriate,” has disappointed him much.  

 

Papuashvili stated last week that the invitation was “inappropriate” amid Kyiv’s “unfounded accusations” over Georgia’s aiding Russian smuggling, the recall of the ambassador and Ukraine’s “not seeing” Tbilisi’s “powerful” support on the international arena. 

“Dear colleague, Ukraine appreciates any help it receives from other countries at this difficult time. Every day we are asking for strengthening sanctions in Russia, providing us with military, political and financial support. There are countries that help us in all directions. There are countries that help only in single issues,” Stefanchuk said. 

He stated in his long post that Ukraine appreciates the “sincere support of the brotherly Georgian people.” 

“We know that Georgians are always sincere, brave and brave soldiers, many of whom today stand side by side with our people, defending Ukraine from the Russian invasion. Just like many Ukrainians in 2008 who stood by Georgians against the same Russia which killed people and is occupying your lands,” Stefanchuk stated.

He said that from the very first days of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war, Ukraine provided “all types of support – political, informational, military support for Georgia,” reminding Papuashvili that Ukrainian anti-air defense systems are currently available in Georgia. 

“The only thing that gives me a sense of indecent trouble is the question: is it justified to call an invitation ‘improper’ to a friendly country, and to watch its misery, share its grief, express words of support? I think a friend should do this without an invitation,” Spefanchuk said. 

At the end of his post, the Rada chair cited the words of an iconic Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli that hard times reveal true friends.