Monitoring Desk
KYIV: Ukraine on Monday denied any involvement in anti-government protests that started in Georgia last week after Tbilisi accused Ukraine of getting involved in the politics of the country by commenting on the unrest.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky had wished “democratic success” to the tens of thousands of protesters who came to the streets in the capital of Georgia over a controversial law reminiscent of Russian legislation utilized to silence critics.
In reference to Zelensky’s remarks, Georgian Premier Irakli Garibashvili stated that “when a person who is at war gets time to speak about a destructive rally… this shows the person’s involvement”.
He condemned statements from Ukrainian officials as “direct interference” in an interview with a pro-government Imedi TV station last Sunday.
Moscow claimed Friday that foreign countries were inciting mass protests in Tbilisi, likening them to an attempted coup designed to create tension on the borders of Russia.
“Repeating Russian propaganda, representatives of the Georgian authorities accused Kyiv of preparing a coup d’etat in Georgia, of pulling it into a war with Russia,” Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said Monday.
Kyiv Denies Meddling in Georgia
“We categorically reject such blames, which have nothing to do with reality,” Nikolenko said on Facebook, adding that “Georgian authorities are searching for the enemy in the wrong place.”
Following two days of large-scale protests, Georgia’s ruling party dropped the controversial “foreign agent” legislation.
The demonstrations point to turmoil over the future of Georgia, which focuses on joining the EU and NATO, much to the frustration of Moscow.
