Ruling party head: Georgia not imposing sanctions on Russia, but won’t allow their circumvention
Kobakhidze also spoke about the import and export of Russian goods, pointing out that it was “fundamentally important” for Georgia. Photo: Georgian Dream Press service
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Georgia is not imposing sanctions against Russia, but the country will not become a way to circumvent the international measures taken against the Kremlin for its invasion of Ukraine, Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Monday.
In an interview with Palitra News, Kobakhidze said the Georgian Government acted “in the interests of its own country” in not imposing sanctions, echoing previous comments by ruling party officials on the matter.
[In the subject of] the sanctions, naturally, Ukraine has its subjective interest [to see them imposed on Russia], which is absolutely understandable. Our position on sanctions is clear and we have repeatedly said that we are not imposing sanctions; however, we have also said that Georgia will not become a mechanism to circumvent those sanctions. Our position is clear and will not change,” the GD official said.
Kobakhidze also spoke about the import and export of Russian goods, pointing out that it was “fundamentally important” for Georgia.
We must take care of the security of our country, including the economic one. This is where we have to make a balanced decision,” Kobakhidze noted while explaining the economic influence of Russia in the context of potential effects on Georgia.
Georgia has taken “specific steps” to show support for Ukraine, and the country stands with the Ukrainian people in “every possible way”, Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Monday.
Georgia will not be a country where Russia will be able to bypass international sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili stated on Sunday, following his visit to Ukraine and meeting with the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Chair Ruslan Stefanchuk.
There have been no demands from the Ukrainian authorities to their Georgian counterparts on sanctions against Russia, as Georgia is already a part of all international measures imposed on the Kremlin following its invasion of Ukraine, Parliament Vice Speaker Archil Talakvadze said in an interview released by the Georgian Public Broadcaster on Sunday.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, along with the parliamentary delegation of Georgia, met with Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Chair Ruslan Stefanchuk and denounced Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine on an official visit to the country on Saturday.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday thanked diplomatic missions of foreign countries in Kyiv, including the Embassy of Georgia, for their support to the country in the wake of the Russian invasion.