Deputy FM: Georgian side “categorically” urges Ukrainian counterparts to present evidence of accusation on sanctioned product smuggling
“It is unfortunate that we have heard a similar statement from the Ukrainian side again, especially in the light of the fact that Georgia has officially requested the presentation of concrete evidence on the possible passage of contraband through the territory of Georgia,” the Georgian diplomat said. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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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.
Commenting on the controversy over the allegations from the Ukrainian authorities, Darsalia said such evidence “was not presented” by the Ukrainian Charge d’Affaires at Tuesday’s meeting between officials of the two countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also cited the Deputy Minister on saying his Government had expressed concern over the claims, made by the Main Intelligence Division of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, noting such accusations had a “destructive nature”, served to “harm the friendly relations” between the two countries, and posed a “great risk” to Georgia in terms of its security and reputation,
“It is unfortunate that we have heard a similar statement from the Ukrainian side again, especially in the light of the fact that Georgia has officially requested the presentation of concrete evidence on the possible passage of contraband through the territory of Georgia,” the Georgian diplomat said.
The Ukrainian diplomat was briefed yesterday on the positions of the relevant competent authorities of the Georgian side in this regard, Darsalia also pointed out, in addition to “clarifications” made by the State Security Service of Georgia.
The Deputy Minister reaffirmed Georgia’s commitment to continue supporting Ukraine both in “bilateral and multilateral formats” amid the war.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
Georgia has a “very strong stance” on supporting Ukraine, expressed at all international organisations, Maka Bochorishvili, the Chairwoman of the Georgian Parliament’s European Union Integration Committee, said on Thursday.