According to the Ministry of Defense of Georgia, the information that Ukraine handed over “Buk” air defense systems to Georgia for free is incorrect.
As the Ministry explains, the Defense agency received the “Buk” system in 2007 with a multi-million dollar purchase. This was done under a secret agreement, which is why they are deprived of the opportunity to specify more details.
In addition, they note that tens of millions of dollars were also paid by the Ministry of Defense in 2017 for the purchase of Javelin anti-tank systems from the USA.
“We would like to respond to the incorrect information spread by so-called experts or individual media outlets, as if Ukraine handed over “Buk” air defense systems to Georgia for free, which is not true.
“In 2007, the Defense agency received the “Buk” system with the mentioned multi-million dollar purchase. This was done under a secret agreement, which is why we are deprived of the opportunity to specify more details. We explain to the public that tens of millions of dollars were also paid by the Ministry of Defense in 2017 for the purchase of Javelin anti-tank systems from the USA.
“Georgia firmly continues its humanitarian and political support to Ukraine, based on the possibilities available to it. A clear proof of this is the tons of humanitarian cargo sent, and among them, finally, the generators purchased and handed over to Ukraine at the initiative of the Prime Minister.
“As for the transfer of arms or dual-purpose equipment to Ukraine, the government of Georgia has repeatedly voiced a clear position on the issue,” the information reads.
The statement comes in response to the article published by the Ukrainian Chargé d’Affaires in Georgia, Andrii Kasianov, in the Ukrainian media, according to which, Kyiv asked Tbilisi to hand over the “Buk” missiles, which were given to Georgia by Ukraine during the 2008 war. According to him, Ukraine’s request included the Javelin systems transferred by the United States of America to Georgia, and regarding the latter, there was not only consent from the United States, but even a proposal to replace them with new complexes.
