Parliament Vice Speaker: Georgia will “never” become place for circumvention of Russia sanctions

Archil Talakvadze, the Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker, on Monday said Georgia would “never become a place for circumventing the sanctions” imposed on Russia by the international community for its invasion of Ukraine. Photo: Parliament of Georgia

Agenda.ge, 23 Jan 2023 - 18:49, Tbilisi,Georgia

Archil Talakvadze, the Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker, on Monday said Georgia would “never become a place for circumventing the sanctions” imposed on Russia by the international community for its invasion of Ukraine.

Talakvadze’s comments followed the statement of Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, who on Monday rejected the “false” premise in a CNN reporter’s question to the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last week on an alleged export of sanctioned goods to Russia through Georgia.

“Irakli Kobakhidze gave an argumentative response to the misinformation regarding Georgia. The truth is that Georgia complies with all international rules imposed during the war in Ukraine, and Georgia has never become and will not become a place to evade the sanctions [imposed on Russia] in the future”, Talakvadze said. 

We have expressed strong political support for Ukraine on all international platforms, and Georgia is doing everything it can to support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Therefore, if misinformation and unfair accusations are made against our country, it is our first duty to respond to them”, the Parliament official noted.

Talakvadze also claimed “many people” were interested in “harming Georgia's international reputation”, adding the “first duty” of the ruling party was to “tell the truth to the public” and its international partners.