The acting ambassador of Ukraine to Georgia was recalled due to the purchase of washing machines for the embassy – Kobakhidze

The chargé d’affaires of Ukraine in Georgia, Mykhailo Kharishin, was recalled from Tbilisi due to the purchase of washing machines.

This was stated by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze during a briefing that was streamed on the government’s social media channels.

“According to our information, this is not a political act. A specific representative, if I’m not mistaken, who has diplomatic status, was purchasing household items. This was deemed inappropriate in light of the ongoing war, and it led to his recall. This is the information we have… It is related to the purchase of household items by a representative of a particular embassy, which, according to Ukrainian authorities, should not have been purchased during wartime. The issue in question concerns washing machines,” said the Georgian prime minister.

He also recalled that two years ago, Ukraine had already recalled its ambassador from Tbilisi, but for political reasons.

“This is not the same decision as in 2022 when the ambassador was recalled. Back then, as you remember, it was a purely political decision. The Ukrainian government, because we did not join the sanctions and did not send volunteers with official government approval to fight in Ukraine, recalled its ambassador from Georgia. That was a political act,” Kobakhidze stated.

According to Ukrainian media, during a meeting with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andriy Sybiha, chargé d’affaires Kharishin raised the issue of replacing washing machines at the embassy. Sybiha reportedly dismissed Kharishin due to his “complete misunderstanding of the realities of diplomacy in a warring state.”

In March 2022, Ukraine had previously recalled its ambassador from Georgia after Tbilisi refused to impose sanctions on Russia.