Ruling party MP: attacks on Georgia by Ukrainian authorities have become a “campaign”

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.

Okhanashvili was responding to statements of Ukrainian state authorities, who this week alleged Russia was using back channels to ensure smuggling of products through Georgia to avoid effects of international economic sanctions placed on it for its invasion of Ukraine.

Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, said on Tuesday Ukraine was “waiting for official evidence and convincing arguments” from the Georgian Government that the country’s territory was not used for smuggling sanctioned products to Russia.

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“When you are accused, and the accuser [then] tells you to present the facts and evidence [relating to the allegations], [...] in what type of diplomacy does this fit, or what interests does this serve?”, the Georgian MP said in reference to the request by Kuleba for the Georgian authorities to present evidence refuting the original Ukrainian claims.

Georgia has used “all international tribunes” to protect the territorial integrity of Ukraine amid the Russian invasion, and has expressed solidarity with the country, noted Okhanashvili, lamenting “we receive a campaign of slander” in response to the support from the Ukrainian authorities.

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In his comments, the MP alleged the Georgian domestic opposition, specifically the United National Movement opposition party, was involved in the allegations originating in Ukraine against the Georgian Government.

The Ministry of Finance of Georgia said on Monday the information on Georgian territory being used for smuggling sanctioned products was “a completely baseless and absurd accusation.”

The Ministry declared "with full responsibility" that “any type of goods, both military and of dual-use, as well as all the products that are included in the list of sanctions, are subject to strict customs control by the Georgian Government.”