Ruling party MP highlights risk of “damage” to Georgia in imposing bilateral sanctions on Russia

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”.

Davituliani’s comments followed a statement by the Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, who on Wednesday said Georgia should “join the common foreign and security policy of the European Union, including EU sanctions against Russia” following a meeting with the Georgian counterpart Salome Zourabichvili.

Georgia is an enforcer of international sanctions, but does not impose bilateral sanctions [against Russia], and the entire world knows this. It does not impose them because they will not actually harm Russia, [and] its aggressive leaders, [but] will significantly damage Georgia”, the MP said.

Davituliani stressed the difference of circumstances with the Baltic states, which he said were “in a safer situation than us” due to their membership of the EU and NATO.

Everyone should take into account that in this region, in the [South] Caucasus, Russia has an absolute influence on all countries, and the only country left which wants to integrate with Europe, and wants to become a full-fledged member of the Western family, is Georgia”, he continued.

The MP added the outcome of integration aspirations “must not come at the cost of destroying our country”