National Bank rejects NGO claims about “shielding” US-sanctioned individuals
In its response, the NBG said the allegations were aimed at “discrediting” both the country’s Central Bank and the “entire banking system”, and “misleading the public”. The Bank noted there had been “no specific cases” of violation of the sanctions in the financial system of the country, and called the basis for the claims “unclear”. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The National Bank of Georgia on Monday rejected as “absolutely groundless” claims by non-governmental organisations that alleged the Georgian Government and the Bank were “shielding” four Georgian judges and a former Prosecutor General who have been sanctioned by the United States Department of State.
The comments followed a statement released on Monday by Transparency International Georgia, which claimed the sanctions - imposed on the judges for their alleged involvement in “significant corruption”, and on the former official for his alleged links with the Russian intelligence - had not been “followed by effective steps” from Georgian authorities.
It also added the authorities were “actively defending” the interests of sanctioned individuals while “disregarding the legislation and trying to downplay the negative consequences caused by the sanctions by conducting anti-Western propaganda”.
In its response, the NBG said the allegations were aimed at “discrediting” both the country’s Central Bank and the “entire banking system”, and “misleading the public”. The Bank noted there had been “no specific cases” of violation of the sanctions in the financial system of the country, and called the basis for the claims “unclear”.
The financial system of Georgia meticulously fulfils the requirements set by international partners. Despite a number of challenges, the sanctions enforcement process is as transparent and efficient as possible. Any changes made in the regulations are not tailored to the interests of specific individuals, but serve to ensure full compliance of the sanctions’ enforcement process with local legislation and international requirements”, the NBG said.
It also said the Bank was in “constant communication” with international partners and added the NBG had “never been, nor would be, a place of avoiding sanctions”.
The State Department on April 5 imposed visa restrictions on three senior acting judges - Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze and Irakli Shengelia - and former judge Valerian Tsertsvadze for their alleged “involvement in significant corruption”.
The release for the ruling said the judges had “abused their positions as court chairmen and members of Georgia’s High Council of Justice, undermining the rule of law and the public’s faith in Georgia’s judicial system”.
It also sanctioned Otar Partskhaladze - the former Prosecutor General of Georgia under the Georgian Dream Government who held the position between November-December 2013 - last month for “influencing Georgian society and politics for the benefit of Russia”.
Grigol Liluashvili, the head of the Georgian State Security Service, on Thursday said Tbilisi had not received “any evidence” from the United States which could prove the guilt of Otar Partskhaladze, the former Prosecutor General of Georgia who was sanctioned by the State Department in September for his alleged cooperation with the Russian intelligence.
Natia Turnava, the Acting President of the National Bank of Georgia, on Tuesday told local channel PalitraNews TV that the country, its central bank and the financial system had “always been” and would remain loyal to international sanctions.
The Public Service Development Agency of the Justice Ministry on Wednesday said it had deemed it appropriate to terminate the Georgian citizenship of the United States-sanctioned former Prosecutor General Otar Partskhaladze.
The National Bank of Georgia on Monday restricted access to bank assets and financial transactions to Otar Partskhaladze, the former Prosecutor General of the country who was last week sanctioned by the United States Department of State for alleged ties with Russia.
The Georgian State Security Service on Friday said it was “studying” the sanctioning of Otar Partskhaladze, the former Prosecutor General of Georgia under the Georgian Dream Government, by the United States Department of State this week.
Shalva Papuashvili, the Georgian Parliament Speaker, on Monday urged the United States Department of State to lift the visa restrictions it imposed on three acting and one former Georgian judges for “significant corruption” in April “as soon as possible”, due to an “absence of evidence” against them.
Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker in the Georgian Parliament, on Thursday said the United States Department of State’s decision on Wednesday to impose sanctions on four Georgian judges was “unfair”, "absolutely unacceptable” and “incompatible” with the strategic cooperation between the states.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party on Monday rejected claims by non-governmental organisations that alleged the Georgian authorities had left the sanctions imposed by the United States Department of State on Georgian judges and on the former Prosecutor General “without response”.
Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Romeo Mikautadze on Wednesday rejected claims he had received undocumented income while being employed in the public sector, calling the allegations “absurd” and “slander” against him and his family by “some media outlets".
The National Bank of Georgia on Wednesday rejected media reports that alleged the body had failed to conduct due diligence in researching the background of founders of Hash HSC bank, which received a licence to operate in the country on Tuesday.