Georgian PM: Gov’t imposing sanctions on Russia would “destroy our economy”
At a discussion hosted as part of the Forum running in Doha, the PM said imposing sanctions would “damage the interests of our country and [...] our people”. Photo: PM's press office
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday told the Qatar Economic Forum his Government imposing sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine would “destroy our economy”.
At a discussion hosted as part of the Forum running in Doha, the PM said imposing sanctions would “damage the interests of our country and [...] our people”.
Garibashvili also recalled the Russia-Georgia war in 2008 and stressed no sanctions had been imposed by the international community on Russia following its invasion.
No-one in the world made a proper reaction - and, I would say, adequate reaction - to that war. So, my question is: where is the logic? Our war is not a war and Ukraine’s war is a war? I have to say that we were quite disappointed that business as usual continued with Russia after the 2008 war”, Garibashvili said, adding the European Union had “paid Russia $2.5 trillion between 2008-2022”.
He also highlighted the ongoing occupation of 20 percent of the Georgian territory by Russia following the “devastating” conflict. “Russia built two military bases on our historic lands. Russia recognised the so-called independence of our historic regions. And this occupation is ongoing”, the Government head told the panel discussion.
In this situation let me once again confirm that we support Ukraine, we support the Ukrainian people, we want this war to end as soon as possible. We joined more than 500 resolutions at every international platform [in support of Ukraine]. We fully comply with the financial sanctions [imposed on Russia]”, he said and pointed out the United States Department of State had declared Georgian financial institutions to be fully complying with the sanctions.
He also told the Forum Georgia’s trade turnover with Russia was less than $1 billion, noting “what the EU trades with Russia in four days, we trade with Russia in one year”.
One billion cannot affect the Russian economy. This would be 0.3 percent if we had imposed economic sanctions on Russia. There is no logic. This would again destroy [and] harm the national interests of my country”, he noted.
Garibashvili also highlighted his Government’s efforts to bring Georgia closer to the EU and NATO.
“We signed the Association Agreement, free trade, visa-free travel [with the EU], [and received a] European perspective [last year]. Could we have imagined this 10 years ago? The country was heading in a totally different direction. It was our decision to put into the constitution that the country’s foreign policy orientation is the EU and NATO”, the PM told his audience at the event.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday told the ongoing Qatar Economic Forum in Doha his Government had done its “utmost” to ensure the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration over the past decade.
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Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday highlighted Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s speech at a panel discussion of the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha by calling the address “extraordinary”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday told a panel discussion at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha it was his “job and duty” to protect his country’s “national interests and people”, in comments on positions of his Government on the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Gia Volksi, the Vice Parliament Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday said Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s comments at the ongoing Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on his Government's stance over the Russia-Ukraine war and subsequent developments were “sincere” and “rational”.
Irakli Beraia, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Defence and Security Committee, on Wednesday said the ruling Georgian Dream Government would never “cross two red lines” and would not compromise over the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its Euro-Atlantic integration.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said Javier Colomina, the NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, during his visit to Georgia, “once again emphasised” that “no one” was urging the country to impose bilateral sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday told the Global Security Forum in Bratislava the European Union was gradually becoming “one of the largest trade partners” of Georgia.
Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze on Thursday said comments by Marina Kaljurand, a member of the European Parliament, who said Georgia “lags behind” Ukraine and Moldova on its European integration path, was “solely her view”, and said the Government had heard “nothing but good [assessments] from our European colleagues” on the matter.
Beka Davituliani, an MP of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said while Georgia was enforcing the international sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, the country was not imposing bilateral sanctions as “in reality it will not harm Russia but will significantly damage Georgia”.