The new Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, announced on Sept. 8 that he had recalled the Ukrainian charge d’affaires from Georgia, citing that ambassadors of a country at war cannot be detached from the realities of the conflict. The current charge d’affaires in Georgia is Mykhailo Kharyshyn. This decision came amid strained relations between Kyiv and Tbilisi, as the Georgian Dream government seeks to normalize ties with Moscow. Sybiha emphasized the need for Ukrainian ambassadors to show specific results, courage, and proactivity in their roles.
Andrii Sybiha was appointed as Ukraine’s new Foreign Minister on Sept. 5, following a government reshuffle that saw Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba replaced by his deputy. Sybiha’s candidacy was supported by 258 members of the Ukrainian parliament. His appointment came at a time when tensions between Ukraine and Georgia were already high, with the Georgian government criticizing Kyiv for its handling of the conflict with Russia. The imprisonment of Georgia’s former President Mikheil Saakashvili, who holds Ukrainian citizenship, has been a contentious issue in bilateral relations.
The Georgian Dream officials have condemned Russia’s actions in the conflict but have also criticized Ukraine and declined to provide military assistance to Kyiv. They have accused individuals from Saakashvili’s circle and former Ukrainian officials of planning subversive activities in Georgia without providing evidence. The Georgian government has also launched investigations into Georgian volunteer fighters returning from Ukraine. Despite anti-Russian sentiments in the country, the government has taken steps to improve relations with Moscow, including restarting flights and adopting repressive legislation similar to Russia’s “foreign agents” law.
Kharyshyn’s dismissal as the charge d’affaires in Georgia is part of broader personnel changes initiated by Sybiha after he assumed the role of Foreign Minister. Sybiha emphasized the need for young diplomats to join the ministry and act proactively without waiting for instructions from the center. He also highlighted the importance of prioritizing military assistance for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. As part of these changes, Sybiha also moved to dismiss Deputy Foreign Minister Iryna Borovets.
In a separate investigation, it was found that the family of Georgian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili has undeclared real estate in Russia. Ivanishvili, who entered politics in 2011 and founded the Georgian Dream party, had previously pledged to give up his Russian passport and divest from business interests in the country. The revelation of undisclosed real estate in Russia raises questions about Ivanishvili’s ties to the country and his commitment to divesting from Russian assets as promised. The investigation further complicates the geopolitical dynamics between Georgia, Ukraine, and Russia.
Overall, the developments in Ukraine, Georgia, and Russia highlight a complex web of relationships and tensions in the region. The actions taken by the new Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, demonstrate a shift towards a more proactive and assertive foreign policy approach. The strained relations between Kyiv and Tbilisi, as well as the revelations regarding Ivanishvili’s undeclared real estate in Russia, add further layers to the geopolitical dynamics in the area. It remains to be seen how these recent developments will impact the ongoing conflicts and diplomatic efforts in the region.
