US investment climate report “proof” Gov’t never allowed Russia to use Georgia for evading sanctions - PM

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. 

The US Department of State report has put an end to months-long unfounded allegations and slander by the radical opposition [that the Georgian Government was supporting Russia to evade sanctions]”, Garibashvili said while attending a local holiday in the mountainous Svaneti region, in the country’s north-west.

• Georgia ranking high in region as “good place” to do business despite challenges - US State Department

Speaking about the report released on Thursday, which said that Georgia and its financial institutions were acting "fully in accordance" with the international financial sanctions imposed on Russia”, and  that Georgia “ranked high in the region as a good place to do business”, the PM suggested that unlike under the previous United National Movement Government, property rights were “fully ensured” by the current state leadership. 

We all know how property rights were violated in Georgia until 2012. This situation has completely changed under our government. Today, property rights are fully ensured and business is inviolable”, Garibashvili said. 

• US working with Georgian partners to prevent Russia evading sanctions - US Ambassador

The ruling Georgian Dream party MP, Mikheil Sarjveladze, said Friday that the US investment climate report was a “cold shower” for the Georgian Government clinics.