Gov’t “fully committed” to Russia sanctions, individual measures would harm Georgians - Deputy Finance Minister

While the Georgian Government is “fully complying” with the international sanctions imposed on Russia for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, imposing individual sanctions on Russia would not bring “any good” for Georgian citizens, Deputy Finance Minister Mikheil Dundua told TV Imedi on Monday. 

Dundua said the Government’s “uncompromising fight and efforts” for reintegration of the Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions, its support for Ukraine “in all international platforms and with a number of initiatives” and its economic policy were “based on the interests” of the country’s citizens.

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The Georgian Government has been acting in accordance with international sanctions imposed on Russia. However, imposing individual sanctions on Russia will bring no good for the country and our citizens”, he told the channel. 

Dundua also said by imposing sanctions on Russia, Tbilisi would cause “no serious harm” to it while affecting the economic interests of own citizens.

Where the Georgian Government is able to achieve substantial success, it always takes proper actions. However, in this situation, [if it imposes individual sanctions on Russia], only the Georgian citizens will face losses”, he said. 

The Deputy Minister also highlighted cases won by the Government against Russia over the years, from the 2021 lawsuit in the European Court of Human Rights that said Russia violated several articles of the European Convention on Human rights during the 2008 conflict and carried out ethnic cleansing of Georgians, to last year’s conclusion of the International Criminal Court that said Georgian troops had acted “in full accordance” with international law during the war between the two countries.