US sanctions official: Georgian Gov’t “has done great job” in preventing sanctions evasion
He stressed the importance of ensuring not to supply Russia with the goods used in the war and highlighted “very fruitful” cooperation with Georgian authorities in this regard during the meetings over the last two days. Photo via Foreign Ministry
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James O'Brien, the Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination in the United States, on Wednesday said the Georgian Government had done “a great job” in preventing the circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
At a press briefing in Tbilisi, O’Brien hailed the Government’s “complex” approach to the prevention of sanctions evasion and noted if that “complex system” continued working, it would allow international partners to identify trading of sanctioned goods.
He stressed the importance of ensuring not to supply Russia with the goods used in the war and highlighted “very fruitful” cooperation with Georgian authorities in this regard during the meetings over the last two days.
The Georgian Government and the Georgian people know very well how important it is to stop the occupier who is conquering the neighbouring country, and Georgia probably knows this best from its experience and understands its sense”, the US official said.
O'Brien emphasised the meetings held in Tbilisi were a “reflection of the close and deep cooperation” between the US and the Georgian Government, as well as with the latter’s various agencies. “The main purpose of our [sanctions officials from the US, the United Kingdom and the European Union] visit is to continue the cooperation we have with the representatives of the Georgian Government”, he added.
Kumar Iyer, the Director General for Economics, Science and Technology at the United Kingdom Foreign Office, on Wednesday said he was “truly grateful” for the steps taken by the Georgian Government “so far” to prevent the circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
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.
The steps taken by Georgia for the implementation of the international financial sanctions imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and prevention of their circumvention were discussed by Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili and sanctions officials from the European Union and the United States.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili and sanctions officials from the European Union and the United States on Tuesday reviewed the Georgian Government's assistance to its international partners in the enforcement of financial sanctions imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Thursday said this week’s visit of sanctions officials from the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States to the country had “put an end to the speculation” on the topic of enforcement of the international sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, and said “no black hole exists or will exist in Georgia”.
Sanctions officials from the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States, who were on a visit to Georgia this week, on Wednesday highlighted they had been “convinced” that the country’s Government was “seriously” determined not to allow the circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday highlighted this week’s visit of sanctions officials from the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States to the country by saying the domestic public had heard their assessments of “effective control” by the Government in not allowing circumvention of the sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Saturday said Georgian authorities had selected only those airline companies to operate in Georgia, which were not sanctioned for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Georgia’s Western partners, including the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom, “have repeatedly praised” the country’s compliance with all international financial sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Friday at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said domestic authorities had prevented “1,000 cases” of attempts of evasion of the international sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, with “not a single fact” of their successful circumvention identified in the country.
Gia Volski, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday claimed a part of the domestic opposition was “unhappy” with the Government's "effective work" that had resulted in absence of evidence suggesting Russia evading international sanctions imposed on it for its invasion of Ukraine through Georgian territory.
James O’Brien, the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, on Thursday said the Georgian Government had “put in effort” at ensuring reforms, particularly over the past months.
James O'Brien, the Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, on Saturday congratulated the newly appointed Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze and his team.
Lasha Khutsishvili, the Georgian Finance Minister, on Wednesday accused the Georgian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty of aiming to “damage the country’s image” with a report that claimed Georgia had “once again” appeared on a list of countries that Russia could use to purchase dual-use products on the list of sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine.