Georgian Vice PM: Georgia not going to become pawn in global geopolitical conflict

Mamuka Mdinaradze, Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister and State Minister for the Coordination of Law Enforcement Agencies, on Wednesday claimed there were plans to use Georgia “as a pawn” in a broader global confrontation, but said the Government would never take actions that contradict the country's national interests.

“Do you remember the messages from many people, including those who call themselves neutral, when President Zelenskyy said he had recalled Ukraine’s Ambassador from Georgia for two reasons, because Georgia refused to impose sanctions and because it refused to send volunteer fighters to Ukraine with the Government's approval?”, Mdinaradze said.

“Today, the same people tell us not to believe what was said behind closed doors about opening a second front. Fine. But weren’t the public statements made by senior Ukrainian officials, including Zelenskyy’s own statement explaining why the Ambassador was recalled, enough for anyone who is not an agent and does not believe agents?” he added.

Mdinaradze referred to calls for Georgia to impose sanctions on Russia, host military bases, send volunteer fighters and provide military supplies to Ukraine.

“Isn’t that enough to understand what their intentions toward Georgia are? Or do some people need to see a recording of someone saying, ‘Go and start a war immediately, and then we'll help you, and perhaps you'll survive through guerrilla warfare,’ before they accept this simple reality?” he continued.

“They have a plan to use this country in some global confrontation as a pawn, an insignificant one that could deliver a small blow to someone or something. But we do not intend to allow that. It is not in Georgia’s interests. It may be in someone else's interest, but it is not in Georgia’s national interest, and Georgia and its Government will never do anything that is not in the country's national interest”, Mdinaradze concluded.