Georgian revenue service denies reports of import of sanctioned petrol

The revenue service of the ministry of finance of Georgia on Monday responded to media reports alleging an import to Georgia of thousands of tonnes of petrol from a company sanctioned under the international community’s measures against Russia, rejecting the claims as “disinformation”.

The state body said it had reviewed a customs document submitted by Lasha Parulava, the executive director of the Anti-corruption Movement non-governmental organisation, that showed import of petrol from a Russian company via railway on Monday.

While acknowledging the import of petrol in a single 60-tonne railway carriage, the service said the company in question - not named for confidentiality reasons - had not been under sanctions related to Russia’s war in Ukraine at the time of customs registration.

It also said customs procedures for the product had been carried out “in accordance with legislation”, and said “with full responsibility” that the reports “alleging import of 81,000 tonnes of sanctioned oil products to Georgia from Russia serves to mislead the public and discredit the agency".