Parliament official: imposing sanctions on Russia would lead to “counter-sanctions with serious consequences”

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.