PM: Georgia imposing sanctions on Russia would lead to “collapse in all directions”
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday said if his Government imposed sanctions on Russia the decision would lead to a “10 percent [economic] reduction in the country” and a “collapse in all directions”. Photo: PM's press office
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday said if his Government imposed sanctions on Russia in response to the latter’s invasion of Ukraine, the decision would lead to a “10 percent [economic] reduction in the country” and a “collapse in all directions”.
Garibashvili was responding to the statement made on Wednesday by Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, who called for Georgia to join the EU sanctions against Russia following his meeting with Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili.
This is another incompatibility and contradicts the declared policy of our country. We have said that we will not take any step [...] to the detriment of the national interests of our people”, Garibashvili said.
Garibashvili added Zourabichvili had “done nothing” on the path of European integration of Georgia and credited the ruling Georgian Dream party with progress on the path.
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”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday said it was “important” that “no foreign politician or [international] body was saying the country was violating the Western sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine through the resumption of flights between Georgia and Russia.
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Monday said even though the country had not imposed sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, the country’s authorities were “making sure” its territory would not be used for circumvention of the international sanctions for the war.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said urging the country’s Government to impose bilateral sanctions on Russia for its aggression in Ukraine was meant “actually saying that Georgia must risk direct military confrontation with Russia”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday claimed his Government had built an “exemplary, effective” financial system in the country and “not a single fact” of violation of international sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine had been recorded in Georgia.