Georgian Parliament Speaker: Georgia complies with international sanctions

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said Georgia’s policy toward Russia was based on the interests of the Georgian people and the country, arguing that if Russia is considered the aggressor in the war against Ukraine, Georgia would also have to explain why it has not introduced visas for Russian citizens, closed the border or cut economic ties with Russia.

Papuashvili said Georgia was complying with international sanctions and that no cases of sanctions evasion had been confirmed in the country since the start of the war in Ukraine.

“When you ask me why Wildberries, which is a target of Ukraine, is not restricted in Georgia, my answer is this: if Russia is the aggressor that started the war against Ukraine, why don’t we introduce visas, why don’t we close the border, why don’t we cut economic relations? Russia is financing and waging this war, including through its citizens who pay taxes and may therefore be said to be indirectly financing it”, he said.

“So why don’t we close the border? Why don’t we introduce visas and cut economic relations? Because we proceed from the interests of the Georgian people and our country”, Papuashvili continued.

He stressed that Georgia follows the international sanctions regime and takes measures to prevent sanctions evasion.

“Four and a half years have passed since the war began, and not a single case of sanctions evasion has been confirmed in Georgia. Given that we have territories occupied by Russia, a certain grey zone within Georgian territory and a direct border with Russia, not a single case has been recorded under these circumstances, despite all the lies and disinformation that they have tried to spread”, he concluded.