Opposition MP: Georgian authorities “doing everything” to prevent circumvention of Russia sanctions
Samnidze stressed Georgian authorities were standing by the sanctions imposed by the European Union on the Kremlin. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Khatuna Samnidze, an opposition MP and the Chair of the Republican Party, on Tuesday said the Georgian authorities were “doing everything” to prevent use of the country’s territory for circumvention of the sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Samnidze stressed Georgian authorities were standing by the sanctions imposed by the European Union on the Kremlin.
Many political statements have been made regarding the circumvention of sanctions, but this requires specific evidence, [and] it seems that there is no such evidence, and Georgia is doing everything to ensure that there is no circumvention of sanctions in this country, and on the contrary, Georgia is on the side of the sanctions imposed by the European Union”, the opposition MP said.
Samnidze also stressed the comment by the Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who on Monday said he was “glad that Georgia supported all the financial sanctions imposed on Russia by the EU”, was “proof” of the country’s adherence to the bloc’s decisions.
Despite many wrong statements made by [the ruling] Georgian Dream [party] on specific issues related to sanctions, Georgia is not a space where they can be bypassed”, she concluded.
Samnidze’s comments follow claims by some Ukrainian officials and a part of the domestic Georgian media on the Georgian territory being used for circumvention of the sanctions since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said he hoped the European Union would make a "fair decision" on granting Georgia the membership candidate status by the end of the year.
Principal areas of cooperation between Georgia and Moldova were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Oleg Serebrian, the Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration.
The European Council on Monday published Conclusions on European Union priorities for cooperation with the Council of Europe 2023-2024, with the document noting the future of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine and their citizens "lies within the EU”.
Karl Nehammer, the Austrian Chancellor on a visit to Georgia, on Monday said he was “very happy” Tbilisi had joined “all financial sanctions” imposed on Russia by the European Union for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, despite the presence of Russian occupation troops on Georgian territory.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Committee on Human Rights, on Tuesday said the comment by the Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who on Monday said he was “glad that Georgia supported all the financial sanctions imposed on Russia by the EU”, was a “slap in the face to those who “make up fake news” on the sanctions being evaded using the Georgian territory.
The domestic opposition and non-governmental organisations have left the Georgian Government to face the ongoing “propaganda war” against the country “alone”, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili told journalists on Thursday.
Georgia has not been “used in any way” to circumvent sanctions imposed by the international community against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said on Saturday while evaluating the 10th package of sanctions against Russia approved by the European Union.