Revenue Service says Batumi Port customs rejected services to freight ship of company hit with Russia sanctions

Customs authorities in the Black Sea port of Batumi have rejected services to a freight ship sailing under the Turkish flag and carrying oil products from a company hit by the international community’s sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, the Revenue Service of Georgia announced on Monday.

The agency said the vessel had arrived in the port on Sunday, however the authorities had not permitted the unloading of the ship in the port.

The Service explained that the ship had been allowed to enter the port because neither the ship nor its owner were included in the list of the international sanctions.

After studying the documents it was found out that the oil products on board were shipped by a company under international sanctions”, the Revenue Service announced, adding “right now the Turkish-flagged ship is leaving Batumi port with its cargo”.

In comments on the development, Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili said issues related to claims of sanctioned goods being transported through Georgia were often becoming “subject of misinterpretation” in the local media.

It is a fact that the ship with a cargo signed with a sanctioned company entered the port of Batumi. We have studied the documents, and the customs authorities made the decision with the responsibility that they have. In Georgia, there have been no cases of violation of the sanctions", Davitashvili said.

The Minister stressed state agencies were acting with “maximum responsibility” in customs procedures.