Revenue Service rejects opposition figure's claim goods from sanctioned companies entered Georgia from Azerbaijan

The Revenue Service of Georgia on Monday rejected a claim by a member of the United National Movement opposition party who said rail freight from a company sanctioned for Russia's invasion of Ukraine had entered the Georgian territory from Azerbaijan last week. 

The body confirmed exporting companies had sent a freight of 58 carriages from Azerbaijan to Georgia on May 18 through the Gardabani customs checkpoint in the south-east, pointing out the entities were not on the list of sanctions imposed on Russia by the international community.

The statement followed comments by UNM's Vaso Urushadze, who on Monday said the "parallel import" meant products sanctioned by the West were brought into Russia through third countries, including Georgia.

The Service accused Urushadze of spreading “disinformation”, adding 31 of the 58 carriages in the shipment were empty, while the rest of the rail consist containing goods of Georgian companies registered in Georgia. 

It also said its Customs Department would continue implementing customs control measures, including through enforcement of the sanctions, "in accordance with the legislation".