State Security Service urges Ukraine’s military intelligence to “provide immediate evidence” of claims of ties between Georgian, Russian services
The claims by Ukrainian military intelligence would be considered “premeditated misinformation” in case of no evidence being presented, the SSS said, adding such act would be an “extremely unfriendly and provocative step” aimed at provoking internal unrest in Georgia. Photo: SSS.
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The State Security Service (SSS) of Georgia on Tuesday urged Ukraine’s military intelligence to provide evidence of claims of secret ties between Georgian and Russian state services for organising smuggling of sanctioned goods through Georgian territory.
The Service’s response came following allegations of “secret connections” of Georgian agencies with relevant services of the Russian Federation for organising the smuggling of goods sanctioned for Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine.
The investigative body called on the Ukrainian side to provide “immediate” evidence of the information for legal action, noting the Georgian Government “will be uncompromising” in any possible case of such a crime, noting such acts would be a particularly serious criminal offence under the Georgian law.
The State Security Service also mentioned representatives of the state body had met with a representative of the Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia on Monday to “exchange information”, and noting such exchanges are stipulated in a number of interstate agreements between the countries.
The claims by Ukrainian military intelligence would be considered “premeditated misinformation” in case of no evidence being presented, the SSS said, adding such act would be an “extremely unfriendly and provocative step” aimed at provoking internal unrest in Georgia.
The Service said such deliberations would “willingly or inadvertently” serve “only the interests of the forces hostile” to Georgia.
Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, called the statement of the Main Intelligence Division of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine on Russia creating smuggling channels for sanctioned products using Georgian territory a “lie” and “unacceptable”.
The Ministry of Finance of Georgia said on Monday the information on Russia creating smuggling channels for sanctioned products using Georgian territory was “a completely baseless and absurd accusation.”
The information on Russia creating smuggling channels for sanctioned products using Georgian territory is "completely absurd and insulting", the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party MP and Parliament Vice Speaker Giorgi Kakhiani said on Monday.
The United States Government is in close contact with Georgian counterparts and the latter have stood by the international community over Ukraine, Ned Price, the US State Department Spokesperson, said in response to a question over allegations of Russia smuggling sanctioned products using Georgian territory.
Teimuraz Janjalia, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia, urged Andrei Kasyanov, the Ukrainian Charge d'Affaires in Georgia, to provide evidence of alleged secret ties between Georgian and Russian state services for organising smuggling of sanctioned goods through Georgian territory during a meeting on Tuesday.
The border and customs control in Georgia are at the highest level, Levan Davitashvili, the Economy Minister, said on Wednesday in response to allegations of Ukrainian authorities on Russia smuggling sanctioned products using Georgian territory.
The Georgian authorities are waiting for evidence from the Ukrainian Government that prove the “dirty lies” on the territory of Georgia being used for smuggling sanctioned products to Russia “as soon as possible”, Thea Tsulukiani, the Vice Prime Minister and Georgian Minister of Culture said on Wednesday.
Attacks by Ukrainian authorities on Georgia have become a “campaign”, Anri Okhanashvili, an MP of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Wednesday in response to Ukrainian allegations of Russia smuggling sanctioned products using Georgian territory.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, said on Wednesday a “new wave” of “disinformation and provocation campaign” against Georgia on the backdrop of the war in Ukraine was expected “in the coming days”.
The Georgian side “categorically” urges the Ukrainian counterparts to present evidence of the accusation of Ukrainian officials on Russia smuggling sanctioned products using Georgian territory to avoid international sanctions amid its invasion to Ukraine, Lasha Darsalia, the Deputy Foreign Minister, said on Wednesday.
Allegations of Ukrainian authorities should be dealt with “through appropriate channels”, the United States Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said on Wednesday regarding accusations of Ukrainian authorities on Russia smuggling sanctioned products using Georgian territory to evade international sanctions amid its invasion of Ukraine.
The Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia has “categorically” declared that “any and all cargo”, including the goods in the list of international sanctions against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine, is subject to “tight customs control” by the Georgian authorities.
Activities of foreign special services designed to interfere in the public and political life of Georgia were a challenge for the country in 2021, an annual report of the State Security Service to the Georgian Parliament said.
A prospect of sanctioned Russian products entering the European Union through Georgia is “inconceivable,” Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili said on Monday, noting “not only Georgia but also the EU has a lot of control” over preventing the scenario.
The Georgian State Security Service on Monday said it had seized several units of special explosive devices and a “significant quantity” of explosive material allegedly originating from the Ukrainian city of Odesa and intended for transportation to Russia.