NEWS

Vice PM: Ukrainian Gov’t should prove “dirty lies” on sanctioned product smuggling

Tsulukiani stressed all sanctioned goods were “subject to strict customs control” over Georgian borders. Photo: 1tv.ge

Agenda.ge, 06 Apr 2022 - 14:41, Tbilisi,Georgia

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.

Tsulukiani said her Government would conclude the claim from Ukrainian authorities over the matter to be a “false accusation” unless evidence supporting the allegations was presented. She added the burden was on the party issuing the accusations to present proof of their claims.

We are waiting for the evidence from the Ukrainian Government and relevant services as soon as possible to substantiate the dirty lies that were voiced a couple of days ago. Otherwise, we will conclude that it is about a false accusation, to put it very mildly,” the Vice PM said.

Tsulukiani stressed all sanctioned goods were “subject to strict customs control” over Georgian borders.

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 Ministry was responding to statements by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Irina Vereshchuk, who alleged the Georgian political leadership had agreed to smuggle sanctioned goods to Russia through Georgia.

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