Ruling party head: Georgia maintains trade relations with Russia “just like Ukraine does”

The head of the ruling Georgian Dream Party Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday said the Georgian Government maintained trade relations with Russia “just like Ukraine does” amid the latter’s ongoing invasion of Ukrainian territory.

In comments responding to criticism of the Government over its refusal to break trade ties with Russia following the invasion, Kobakhidze pointed out the European Union received 80 percent of the Russian gas via Ukraine and thus also maintained the economic relations.

Ukraine still maintains trade relations with Russia around gas supply. This is a country at war. In such a situation, it is more understandable why we maintain our trade relations with Russia. Where Ukraine maintains these relations, it is logical that we also have our positions,” the GD official said.

Kobakhidze noted the Georgian Government’s stance regarding the sanctions against Russia was “clear”, pointing out imposing sanctions on Russia would cause more harm to the country itself compared to Russia. He said Georgia’s international partners were “aware of this”.

Naturally, we cannot talk about any special expansion of these relations [trade relations with Russia], but we will maintain trade relations with the Russian Federation, as long as we do not join the sanctions,” he concluded.