The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated in response to the thousands of people who came to the streets to express solidarity with Ukraine by holding peaceful protests in Tbilisi, adding “Indeed, there are times when citizens are not the Government, but better than the Government.”
In a tweet, he expressed gratitude by saying, “Incredible Georgian people who understand that friends must be supported! 🇬🇪🇺🇦 Grateful to everyone in Tbilisi and other cities who came out in support of Ukraine and against the war. Indeed, there are times when citizens are not the Government but better the Government.
Incredible Georgian people who understand that friends must be supported! 🇬🇪🇺🇦 Grateful to everyone in Tbilisi and other cities who came out in support of Ukraine and against the war. Indeed, there are times when citizens are not the Government, but better the Government.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 25, 2022
Moreover, Georgian citizens came to the streets to express their solidarity with Ukraine today for the second day in a row to protest Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The peaceful demonstrations were held in the Georgian capital city, Tbilisi, as well as the cities of Kutaisi, Batumi, Zugdidi, Gori, and Poti to condemn Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
However, this time citizens of Georgia were also angered at the Government’s reserved stance amid the conflict, criticizing Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s statement that the country would not join global sanctions against Russia.
After paying tribute to the victims of the 1921 Soviet invasion, Garibashvili stated that imposing sanctions on Russia would affect “national interests and people’s interests.”
In addition, he also told reporters that visiting Ukraine now for “the sake of going is useless.”
Garibashvili was immediately criticized for the statement, while opposition groups and activists in Georgia planned rallies for the evening.
On Friday, during a rally in support of Ukraine at the Ukrainian Embassy in Tbilisi, a citizen of Russia, Anton Mikhalchuk, denounced Russia’s actions and burnt his own passport by saying, “we do not want a war.”
Mikhalchuk said, “I renounce my citizenship of this country [Russia]. I don’t want to have this passport.”
