EU Sanctions Envoy “convinced” that Georgian Gov’t does not allow circumvention of sanctions against Russia

David O’Sullivan, the European Union Sanctions Envoy, on Wednesday said during his meetings with Georgian authorities over the last two days, he had got “convinced” that the country’s Government was “seriously” determined not to allow the circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

At a press briefing in Tbilisi, O’Sullivan highlighted the “positive impressions” after the meetings and noted he was “impressed” by the measures the Government had taken against the sanctions evasion. 

He said that with his American and British colleagues, he had visited not only Georgia but also several other countries during the last few months, pointing out the “partnership and cooperation” as the purpose of their visit. 

The EU Sanctions Envoy noted he and other sanctions officials were studying the matter of the sanctions evasion regarding the 38 battlefield products found by Ukrainians, and emphasised that Georgia had taken “significant measures” to control the export of these products, stressing the country’s authorities were also “vigilant” against bypassing financial sanctions.

He said the bloc understood “the very specific situation of Georgia [as the country’s territories are occupied by Russia]”, highlighting that the Georgian Government was taking “very serious obligations” not to allow the circumvention of the sanctions by using the Georgian territory.

[W]e, the EU and Georgia, which will hopefully one day become a member of the bloc, have an important bilateral agenda [...], we must avoid that it [enforcement of sanctions] does not become an obstacle to our close bilateral relations [...], I am glad that what we have seen in the last two days does not give grounds for this”, he added.

The EU does not want to “interfere in legitimate trade relations” between Georgia and Russia, this is a matter of Georgian business and Government, O’Sullivan stressed in his comments.