US working with Georgian partners to prevent Russia evading sanctions - US Ambassador
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said on Thursday the US was monitoring Russia’s potential evasions of sanctions imposed on the country for its invasion of Ukraine. Photo: US Embassy press office
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Kelly Degnan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, said on Thursday the US was working with its Georgian partners to oppose any attempts by Russia to circumvent the international sanctions imposed on the country for its invasion of Ukraine.
We continue to monitor possible sanctions evasions. Our Georgian partners work with us to ensure that Georgia is not being used for sanctions evasion. We see that the sanctions are having an effect. For them to have maximum effect and pressure the Kremlin to stop attacking Ukraine, it is important that we work together to close all loopholes”, Degnan said in an interview with Interpressnews.
Ukrainian officials have several times accused the Georgian Government of supporting Russia to evade sanctions through the use of the Georgian territory and the banking system, the allegations which have been strongly condemned by the Georgian Dream authorities, demanding any evidence to prove the “unfounded accusations' '.
Kyiv has not presented any evidence so far which would have backed their allegations.
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.
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 Government has a “principled position” on not allowing “any legal entity or individual” to use the territory of Georgia to circumvent international sanctions imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Wednesday.
Georgia is in full compliance with the financial sanctions imposed by the international community against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine, Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said on Thursday.
The 2022 Investment Climate Statements released by the United States Department of State on Thursday said the National Bank of Georgia and Georgian financial institutions were acting "fully in accordance" with the financial sanctions imposed by the United States and others on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.
The United States Department of State’s 2022 Investment Climate Statements has confirmed that the Georgian Government has never allowed Russia to circumvent international sanctions imposed on it for invading Ukraine through the use of the Georgian territory or “any other means”, Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili said on Friday.
Russian and Panamanian-flagged ships loaded with fuel and grain between August 11 and 15 and accepted at Georgia’s Poti and Batumi ports had “no connections” with companies sanctioned for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia said on Tuesday.