Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said “not a single fact” of the international sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine being bypassed through the Georgian territory had been confirmed “even at the level of suspicion”.
In his remarks over the matter, Papuashvili accused “those who call on the Georgian Government to impose bilateral sanctions against Russia” of making calls for the country to “risk an escalation against Russia”.
There is no question mark for Georgia [on sanctions enforcement]. As for the sanctions, we have said from the first day of the war in Ukraine what our policy is, and we follow this policy in good faith. It is our policy that Georgia should not be used to circumvent the international sanctions, and not a single fact has been proven even at the level of suspicion”, Papuashvili said.
“Georgia itself does not impose bilateral sanctions against Russia. In this regard, we have often talked with our [Western] partners and there is absolutely an understanding from the partners in this regard. Anyone who calls on Georgia to impose bilateral sanctions against Russia is calling on Georgia to risk escalation against Russia, to risk a war with Russia”, the chief legislator continued.
He also stressed the visit of the European Union Sanctions Envoy David O’Sullivan to the country was “important”, as the EU official would have the opportunity to learn how “prepared” the Georgian state institutions were both in terms of technology and risk detection, so that “there is no possibility of using the territory of Georgia and circumventing the sanctions”.