Georgian MP: allegations of Ukraine’s Russia negotiator against Georgia “incomprehensible”
Vashadze also said he had asked Georgia's Western allies a number of times whether accusations of sanctions circumvention involving Georgia were valid, noting he received “a categorical no as their answer each time”. Photo: Interpressnews.ge
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Grigol Vashadze, a member of the Georgian Parliament, on Thursday criticised David Arakhamia, a Ukrainian lawmaker and the country's chief negotiator with Russia, for his “incomprehensible” allegations of Georgia being used for circumvention of international sanctions placed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Vashadze condemned Arakhamia’s statements as being made “without any facts or evidence”, adding the claims were “not suitable for the alliance of the two countries”, the Georgian Public Broadcaster said.
The MP’s comments follow allegations made by Arakhamia over the recent months on Russian individuals and companies using entities in Georgia to bypass the Western sanctions on Russia.
Vashadze also said he had asked Georgia's Western allies a number of times whether accusations of sanctions circumvention involving Georgia were valid, noting he received “a categorical no as their answer each time”.
The politician also said the Western partners were “interested in how Georgia fulfils its obligations” to the European Union under the Association Agreement, “not propaganda statements”. He cited the President of the European Council Charles Michel on saying, in a recent interview, the country was being judged by the results achieved in its democratic development.
Kelly Degnan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Tuesday said David Arakhamia, a member of the Ukrainian parliament, had not produced “any evidence” to support his allegations that the Georgian Government is involved in facilitating evasion of international sanctions placed on Russia for the invasion of Ukraine.
The Georgian Ministry of Finance on Friday released a statement rejecting "irresponsible and manipulative" reports by local media outlets that alleged use of the country’s transport corridor for delivering Russia's sanctioned goods to Europe.
The National Bank of Georgia on Thursday said it "categorically rules out" the possibility of individuals sanctioned in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine carrying out “any kind of financial transaction” using the Georgian banking sector.
The Georgian Embassy in Washington on Wednesday said the allegation by Ukrainian lawmaker David Arakhamia that Russian individuals and companies were using entities in Georgia to bypass Western sanctions were “completely false”, Reuters reported.
Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili on Monday accused a part of the domestic opposition of seeking “restrictive measures” being applied to the country by the West.
Ruling Georgian Dream party chair Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday said the list of “candidates for sanctions on the Kremlin” for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, released recently by the Ukrainian Anti-corruption Agency and including GD founder and former Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili” and several of his relatives, was “absurd”.