Putin Slams Ukraine for Alleged Arms Supplies to Georgia

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the Ukrainian authorities may have delivered arms to Georgia during the recent war, which, he said, was “a criminal action.”

“I think that there could not be a greater crime against the Ukrainian and Russian peoples than arms deliveries to the conflict zone,” Putin said on October 2. “But we are mostly concerned with the possibility that military hardware was delivered during the hostilities and operated by Ukrainian specialists. If confirmed, it is a crime because it is nothing less than direct involvement in the armed conflict, playing off Russians against Ukrainians. This is simply dabbling in politics, which is irresponsible, harmful and criminal.”

Putin made his remarks at a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Yulia Timoshenko, in Moscow.

In response Timoshenko said that the trade in arms is controlled by the president and the National Security Council. “But at the same time, I believe we can only talk about such serious allegations if they are proven,” she added.

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