Russian, Panamanian-flagged ships accepted at Georgian ports not connected to sanctioned Russian businesses - Revenue Service

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. 

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In clarifications on the matter, the Revenue Service said the four ships - under the names Blacksea Eagle, SVL UNITY, BAKU STAR and  NEONIL - had entered the ports from Russia and Bulgaria loaded with cargo for Georgian and Armenian companies. 

The ships were loaded by Russian and Bulgarian companies, carrying 6,270,095 tons of diesel and 2,900 tons of wheat for Georgian companies, and 5,000,306 tons of fuel and 3,299,100 tons of wheat for Armenian companies”, the state body explained. 

The Service added the Maritime Transport Agency of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia had inspected the ships and confirmed that “international sanctions did not apply either to the ships or to their own companies”. The cargo was also cleared in the process, the body noted.

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“After the completion of the customs control procedures, the cargo was unloaded and entered into the import procedure in accordance with the law”, the Revenue Service’s statement said, adding that along with the Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia, it “constantly checks both ships and shipowners” to “prevent any attempt” by Russia to circumvent the international sanctions.