Finance Minister claims “many cases” of “disinformation” on sanctions enforcement in 2023
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili delivered his speech at an event dedicated to International Customs Day. Photo: Ministry of Finance
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Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Friday said “many cases” of “disinformation” and “fake news” on enforcement in Georgia of the international sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine had been observed over the past year.
Speaking at an event dedicated to International Customs Day, Khutsishvili said the instances had involved “politically motivated individuals” and were “directed against customs services and the country”.
The fight against disinformation is a constituent part of our work”, he said, adding “all such facts will be given a reasoned response in the future”.
The Ministry cited Khutsishvili as saying a “special group” had been created in the Revenue Service following Russia's “aggressive war” against Ukraine to “constantly” monitor the movement of goods through the Government-controlled territory across Georgia.
We have recorded 1,770 cases of refusals of implementing customs procedures. Currently, 36 operational risk profiles are active, which automatically identify data on sanctions and initiate the detection of additional risk factors. The work of our customs services is recognised by all partner countries at the highest level”, the Minister said.
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He also noted Georgia’s increased transit opportunities, saying the “geopolitical challenges” had led to the Middle Corridor - a transportation route network connecting China with Europe through the South Caucasus region - had become the “most important logistics node”.
Khutsishvili said the “main task” of the customs administration was to “strengthen the efforts” of the country on its path of European integration.
He announced plans for Georgia to join the European Union convention on common transit procedures this year, enabling economic operators to transport cargo to 35 countries on the European continent through a new computerised transit system based on a single electronic document and guarantees issued by Georgian customs.
The Minister said the Institute of Economic Operators, authorised according to the EU model, had been introduced in Georgia in 2021, adding eight economic operators with the status were operating in the country.
Khutsishvili was speaking to an audience involving the EU Ambassador and members of the diplomatic corps of the bloc’s member countries to support negotiations for the signing of the agreement on the mutual recognition of authorised economic operators between Georgia and the EU.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday said the Georgian Government’s policy of not implementing sanctions on Russia had “brought us a stable situation in Georgia”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said domestic authorities had prevented “1,000 cases” of attempts of evasion of the international sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, with “not a single fact” of their successful circumvention identified in the country.
Natia Turnava, the Acting Governor of the National Bank of Georgia, on Tuesday said the country would “never become a platform” for evading the international sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said Javier Colomina, the NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, during his visit to Georgia, “once again emphasised” that “no one” was urging the country to impose bilateral sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Lasha Khutsishvili, the candidate for the post of the Finance Minister of Georgia, on Tuesday told Parliamentary committees the Government would focus on “fostering rapid economic growth” and strengthening economic ties with the European Union.
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Wednesday told the country’s Parliament its recent macroeconomic parameters “are on par with or exceed” those of European Union member and candidate countries.
The Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance on Thursday said “no specific facts” had been presented by senators Ron Johnson and Richard Blumenthal to the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to confirm claims of violations of international sanctions imposed on Russia through Georgian territory.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said his Government was not imposing sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine but ensuring the international restrictions placed on the country were not circumvented through the Georgian territory.
Lasha Khutsishvili, the Georgian Finance Minister, on Wednesday accused the Georgian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty of aiming to “damage the country’s image” with a report that claimed Georgia had “once again” appeared on a list of countries that Russia could use to purchase dual-use products on the list of sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party in the Parliament, on Wednesday said a report by the Georgian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on possible violations through Georgia of the international sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine was “fake”.