Accusations made on circumvention of sanctions were all “absurd, disproved” - Defence Minister
The Defence Minister noted the Government was paying “maximum attention” to prevent any accusations regarding the circumvention of sanctions, which could be used against the country and damage its diplomatic relations, as well as reputation in the international arena. Photo via Parliament of Georgia
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Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Sunday said the accusations “made so far” on circumvention of sanctions, imposed by the international community against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine, were all “absurd, disproved” and needed justification.
Burchuladze was responding to the statement made by James O'Brien, the Head of the Office of US Sanctions Coordination, who said the transit “of some electronic goods” in Russia had “increased significantly”, including from Georgia.
The Defence Minister noted the Government was paying “maximum attention” to prevent any accusations regarding the circumvention of sanctions, which could be used against the country and damage its diplomatic relations, as well as reputation in the international arena.
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Friday said his Government’s efforts in enforcing international sanctions imposed on Russia for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine had been “praised at all meetings” with financial organisations hosted as part of his official visit to the United States this week.
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Thursday told the Parliament over 1,020 decisions by customs authorities across the country had resulted in returns of sanctioned goods over the past year.
The Georgian Ministry of Finance on Monday said the claim in an NBC News report on the Georgian territory being used by Russia to circumvent international sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine was an “utter lie and disinformation against the country”.
Georgia has not been “used in any way” to circumvent sanctions imposed by the international community against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said on Saturday while evaluating the 10th package of sanctions against Russia approved by the European Union.
The Ministry of Finance of Georgia on Monday responded to unspecified media reports about the territory of Georgia being used for violations of sanctions imposed by the international community against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine by saying “no such fact” had been revealed in the country.
Tbilisi City Hall has started the procedure of terminating the contract with Metrowagonmash, the Russian engineering company, sanctioned by the international community following the country’s invasion of Ukraine, the City Hall announced on Friday.
The Georgian Ministry of Finance on Thursday accused media and “certain politicians” of having “misinterpreted” comments by Jim O'Brien, the Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination at the United States Department of State, on the enforcement of the international community’s sanctions placed on Russia in Georgia.
Russia’s potential use of neighbouring countries for evading international sanctions imposed on it for invading Ukraine is a “natural risk”, but “no case” of evasion of the restrictions has been evidenced on the territory of Georgia, Giorgi Kakauridze, the Deputy Finance Minister of Georgia, said on Friday.
James O’Brien, the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, on Thursday said the Georgian Government had “put in effort” at ensuring reforms, particularly over the past months.