Parliament official: imposing sanctions on Russia would lead to “counter-sanctions with serious consequences”
In his comments, Volski noted the protest had “aimed for [causing] a revolutionary process” in the domestic politics and “organisation of confrontation“ within the country. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Gia Volski, the ruling Georgian Dream party MP and the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Monday said the Government imposing sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine would lead to “counter-sanctions” that would bring “serious consequences” for the country.
Volski’s comment followed an opposition-organised demonstration on Saturday against the alleged presence of the daughter of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and her husband for a planned marriage ceremony involving their relatives in Georgia’s east. Both individuals are on the list of international sanctions for the invasion.
In his comments, Volski noted the protest had “aimed for [causing] a revolutionary process” in the domestic politics and “organisation of confrontation“ within the country.
He also responded to continued calls by a part of the domestic opposition for the Government to impose sanctions on Russia for the ongoing war.
“Imposing sanctions on Russia will lead to counter-sanctions, which, of course, will bring serious consequences for Georgia. We are acting out of our own interests”, he said.
“We think that the restoration of direct flights for our citizens is what is necessary for them”, the Parliament official said in reference to the Russian Government’s lifting of its ban on flights with Georgia last week.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Sunday said imposing sanctions on family members of politicians was inconsistent with human rights standards, citing that as a legal state, Georgia could only sanction individuals who had “directly” committed criminal acts.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Saturday said the wedding of Russian citizens would not take place in Georgia, noting the family had already left the country.
Georgian Police arrested 16 individuals for administrative offences during a protest outside Kvareli Lake Resort in Georgia's east, the local media outlet Interpressnews said on Saturday.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday thanked the country’s Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri and the police for “protecting the legislative body and maintaining public order” during March protests in Tbilisi against the bill on transparency of foreign influence.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said the country’s Government imposing sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine would lead to “retaliatory measures” that would ultimately “threaten the security” of the country.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said “no fact, or even a credible rumour” of violations of international sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine had been established on the territory of Georgia, in response to a media report that linked a sea freight shipment between Georgia’s Black Sea city of Batumi and the Russian port of Novorossiysk on Monday.
The Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia on Monday responded to a report in the Armenian media on an alleged launch of regular sea freight links between Georgia’s Black Sea city of Batumi and the Russian port of Novorossiysk last month.
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Monday said even though the country had not imposed sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, the country’s authorities were “making sure” its territory would not be used for circumvention of the international sanctions for the war.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday said it was “important” that “no foreign politician or [international] body was saying the country was violating the Western sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine through the resumption of flights between Georgia and Russia.
Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Tuesday claimed the country’s foreign partners had “no reasons for concern” about the recently resumed flights between Russia and Georgia.
Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said his party was “refusing to respond” to President Salome Zourabichvili’s critical comments on the current Government over the recent years due to its “respect of the Presidential institute” and “national interests”.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Monday said the restoration of direct flights between Russia and Georgia could “not be viewed in the same context” as situations facing other countries in their considerations with the Kremlin.