Georgia's Foreign Ministry has accused Ukraine of "extreme escalation of relations." The day before, Zelensky suggested that the Georgian ambassador leave Kyiv (because of Saakashvili)

The Georgian Foreign Ministry called Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposal to send the Georgian ambassador from Kiev to Tbilisi for consultations with his leadership “an extreme form of escalation of diplomatic relations.”

Earlier, on July 3, the Ukrainian president made a similar statement, commenting on the photos of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili from prison that appeared online. In the court photos , he looked much thinner and not like himself. Zelensky said that "Russia is currently killing Ukrainian citizen Mikheil Saakashvili with the hands of the Georgian authorities." He called on the Georgian authorities to transfer Saakashvili to Ukraine for treatment.

In response, the Georgian Foreign Ministry expressed "deep concern" and regret that Kyiv took such a "step against a friendly state and people." "The decision of the Ukrainian authorities seriously damages the strategic relations between the two countries and represents direct interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state," the ministry's statement said.

At the same time, the ministry emphasized Georgia’s unwavering commitment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

Georgia will continue to express solidarity and support for Ukraine, a country in a state of war. It is precisely because Ukraine is going through an active phase of war that we refrain at this stage from any further reaction to the steps taken by Ukraine, as well as from creating any further tension in bilateral relations that would lead the already difficult situation into a dead end.

• Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has been in custody since autumn 2021. He was arrested on previous convictions after he illegally crossed the border and returned to Georgia. Saakashvili's health has noticeably worsened in prison. Since May 2022, the politician has been in the Vivamed clinic in Tbilisi. During the court hearings, 20 doctors stated that Saakashvili was in extremely serious condition. In February 2023, it was reported that Saakashvili weighed 67 kilograms. Before his arrest, he weighed 116 kilograms with a height of 195 centimeters.