President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree that implements the decision of the National Security and Defense Council regarding sanctions against the pro-Russian Georgian government.
The list of individuals subject to restrictions includes 19 representatives of the Georgian authorities, among them is the former defender of Kyiv’s “Dynamo” and Italy’s “Milan” Kakha Kaladze, who is now the mayor of Tbilisi. The sanctions were a response to the violent dispersal of protests in Georgia caused by the government’s refusal to negotiate the country’s accession to the European Union.
Former Ukrainian national team player and now coach Sergiy Nahorniak shared his thoughts about Kaladze.
— You played in a friendly match between the veterans of Ukraine and Georgia in 2018, where Kaladze also participated. Tell us how you were received in Sakartvelo and what Kakha was like back then?
— To be honest, I absolutely do not know Kaladze, we only crossed paths on the soccer field. We greeted each other, and that was it. After the game, there was a buffet. Kaladze was already the mayor of Tbilisi at that time. He sat with us symbolically and then left, but I did not communicate with him. How did he behave? Very calmly and measuredly, there was no arrogance. The Georgians welcomed us very well, there are no questions about that.
— Today President Zelensky imposed sanctions against pro-Russian politicians in Georgia. Kaladze is among them.
— I doubt this will affect Kaladze in any way. When was the last time he was in Ukraine? Probably at Andriy Husin’s funeral, maybe he came to some veterans’ matches.
— Why do you think Kaladze chose to be a pro-Russian politician?
— It’s hard for me to explain this, given that a person has played in Europe for so many years, like Kavelashvili, who is running for president from the ruling party. Honestly, I don’t know what’s on their minds.
I think Kaladze does not belong to himself. At such a young age, he has already managed to be a Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy, and now in his second term as mayor. Believe me, it is not so easy to become Minister of Energy right after finishing a football career. It seems to me that some influential people are behind Kaladze, and he is like a screen. Thank God, I am not involved in politics.
It’s very sad that the guy played for so many years in our country, knows Ukrainians very well, and is now pursuing pro-Russian policies. Apparently, he is controlled by puppeteers. People like Kaladze are absolutely uninteresting to me.
— With Kaladze, everything is clear, but what did you think about the majority of the Georgian population — pro-Russian or pro-European?
— They told us back then that the people of Georgia support Ukraine, but the politicians do not; they look towards Russia. Now it has become even more obvious.
I remember at the veterans' tournament in Norway we met with the Georgian delegation, there was the vice-president of their federation, but Kaladze was not there. They treat us very well, saying: “The Georgian people are all for Ukraine, except for the politicians.” With whoever of the Georgians I communicated, they always express sympathy for the Ukrainian people.
Andriy Piskun
