Finance Minister: sanctioned Russian products entering EU through Georgia “inconceivable”
The Minister reiterated there were “no questions” from Georgia’s international partners regarding the implementation of sanctions against Russia, and noted the country worked “closely” with countries that had imposed sanctions against Russia since the latter’s invasion of Ukraine, and provided “detailed information” to them. Photo: Georgian Finance Ministry
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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 Minister’s comment came in response to a statement issued on Sunday by the intelligence service of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry, which said Georgia, along with Armenia and Azerbaijan, was in talks with Moscow to re-export Russian products to international markets. The statement said “more than 200 companies have already been established in these countries” for the purpose.
Khutsishvili said the Government would request information on the basis of the statement by the Ukrainian authorities, but added Georgia could only be a transit country for non-sanctioned goods.
The Minister reiterated there were “no questions” from Georgia’s international partners regarding the implementation of sanctions against Russia, and noted the country worked “closely” with countries that had imposed sanctions against Russia since the latter’s invasion of Ukraine, and provided “detailed information” to them.
It is important that Georgia exchanges and clarifies information with all partners, and this process ensures that no mistakes are made,” the Minister said.
Khutsishvili also elaborated on financial sanctions against Russia and Georgia’s role, saying the financial sector, in the form of the National Bank of Georgia, had a “solid” and “good” regulator and the Government did not expect “any difficulties” in this regard.
Kyiv previously accused the Georgian Government of creating smuggling channels for sanctioned products using Georgian territory in April, to which the Georgian authorities responded by urging Ukraine’s military intelligence to provide evidence for the claims.
In March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recalled Ambassador Igor Dolgov “for consultations”, before signing decrees recalling diplomats from Georgia and Morocco, citing their failure to obtain imposition of sanctions on Russia or supply of weapons to 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.
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 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.
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 Georgian Maritime Transport Agency has rejected a TV report that alleged a Russian tanker had been provided with services in Georgia's Black Sea port of Batumi in circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Georgian Railway has denied reports of the opposition-minded Mtavari Arkhi channel about Russian energy giant Gazprom attempting to use the Georgian territory to transport products sanctioned following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Georgian finance system’s joining of the international sanctions imposed against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine has been praised by the international regulators, Koba Gvenetadze, the Head of the National Bank of Georgia said on Wednesday.
More than 90 operations have been suspended by the Georgian customs service in the country on suspicion of violations of sanctions imposed by the international community against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine, Lasha Khutsishvili, the Georgian Finance Minister said on Tuesday.
Georgian customs authorities have the transit of cargo across the country’s economic borders “under control” and are in communication with their international partners to ensure an enforcing of sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili said on Wednesday.