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. Photo: Revenue Service
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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".
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.
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 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.
Irakli Karkashadze, the Director of the United Airports of Georgia, on Saturday said “none of" Russia's airlines or aircraft, sanctioned for its invasion of Ukraine, would be served at Georgian airports after the resumption of direct flights between the countries this week.
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.