Mykhailo Podolyak: The position of the Georgian government, and not of the people, completely contradicts the position of the democratic international community

We see that Georgia is looking at the war in Ukraine strangely. It does not take the same clear and unequivocal position as the EU and the United States, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian president's office, told VOA.

According to Podolyak, the position of the Georgian government contradicts the position of the democratic international community.

"Unfortunately, the position of the Georgian government and, of course, not of the people, completely contradicts the position of the democratic international community. The Georgian government is directly or indirectly linked to Mr. Ivanishvili, who is clearly a Russian oligarch and, unfortunately, has long had an influence on the current Georgian government. We see that Georgia is looking at the war in Ukraine strangely. It does not take the same clear and unequivocal position as the EU and the United States. As for the intelligence, we have information about [Russia's] ongoing negotiations with various countries, be it Belarus and Russia, Georgia and Russia, or Armenia and Russia. Our foreign intelligence controls all of this.

From our point of view, we think that Georgia could have taken a more understandable position, why? Because it also suffered from direct military intervention by the Russian Federation," Podolyak said.

As for the question of how much Podolyak feels the support of the people, the adviser to the President of Ukraine added that the support of the Georgian people is really felt. According to him, it is inconceivable how such people can have an oligarch like Ivanishvili.

"Yes, we really feel support from the Georgian people. I have many Georgian friends. They are wonderful people. They are very proud and strong people. I just do not know how such people can have an oligarch like Ivanishvili. That's all. Oligarchs, however, are very specific subjects. Especially in the former Soviet Union. They often do not fit into the character and core that people actually have. I like Georgians very much. Unfortunately, it would be nice if they remember that they are very proud and strong people," Podolyak added.