US Ambassador: Georgia has complied with Russia sanctions

Kelly Degnan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Thursday said the Georgian Government had complied with financial sanctions imposed by the international community on Russia following the latter’s invasion of Ukraine “from the very beginning”.

In an interview with the local news agency InterPressNews, Degnan noted the Government had taken a position regarding Russia's war against Ukraine that it was “comfortable with”. 

We have been very understanding and sensitive from the beginning that Georgia is in a sensitive situation with 20 percent of your territory occupied. Our discussions with Georgia have always been about what Georgia feels comfortable doing in terms of providing support to Ukraine”, Degnan said. 

She told the interview the humanitarian assistance “so generously” provided by the country’s Government and citizens to Ukraine had been “very important”.

“The industrial generators that the Government sent over were hugely important for Ukraine right now. Georgia has also complied with international financial sanctions since the very beginning”, she said.

You have a very good National Bank and a very professional Ministry of Finance. They are ensuring that Georgia is in compliance with international financial sanctions. We don't have any evidence that they are not complying with sanctions”, Degnan added. 

The Ambassador conceded there was a “huge amount of goods that are flowing across all of our borders” and noted “I don't think anybody can say with a hundred percent surety” in reference to cross-border operations.

However, she also pointed out her diplomatic office’s work with the Georgian Customs Service and Border Police had demonstrated the state agencies were “trained”, “equipped” and “know what they're doing”, adding “they are doing the best job they can under the circumstances”.