Ukraine has quarreled with Georgia and refused to extradite suspected officials

Ukraine has effectively rejected Georgia’s demand to extradite two associates of Saakashvili and has put forward its own counter demands for the “normalization of relations.” This statement was made by the head of the presidential faction “Servant of the People” in the Verkhovna Rada, David Arakhamia. Moreover, he referred to the authorities of Georgia as “pro-Kremlin.”

Arakhamia stated that Tbilisi is demanding from Kyiv to extradite “our citizens,” implying that Ukraine does not intend to do so. At the same time, he presented certain conditions from Kyiv for the “normalization of relations.” Ukraine demands the release from prison and the return of “our citizen” Mikheil Saakashvili, who was previously the president of Georgia. Also, Kyiv wants Georgia to cease direct air communication with Russia and stop assisting Moscow in evading sanctions.

The Prime Minister of Georgia, Garibashvili, called Arakhamia’s statements “very sad” and stated that Tbilisi already supports the Ukrainian people and expresses solidarity not only in words but also in actions. It is worth noting that Georgia requested the extradition of Zurab Adeishvili, an advisor to the Prosecutor General, and Georgy Lortkipanidze, an employee of the Counterintelligence Service. Adeishvili currently holds the position of the head of the Department of International Legal Cooperation at the Prosecutor General’s Office and effectively refused to extradite himself.