Georgian PM: EU fully informed, no sanctions violations in Kulevi

Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday said the European Commission had been provided with complete information regarding Kulevi, with this information confirming that the sanctions regime was not being violated in Kulevi.

Speaking to journalists in response to a question regarding the 20th package of EU sanctions, Kobakhidze noted that there was no evidence of any violation of the sanctions regime, and Georgia would not be included in this package.

“We have provided the European Commission with complete information regarding Kulevi, and this information confirms that the sanctions regime is not being violated in Kulevi. This is reliable information that we have shared with the European Union; therefore, we hope that Kulevi will not be included in the sanctions package”, he said.

“We provided the EU with conclusive information that the sanctions regime is not being violated in Kulevi. We sent the relevant information to the European Commission and will await their decision. Logically, since there is zero evidence of sanctions violations, I believe Georgia will not be included in this package. Including a specific strategic facility in the sanctions package would be harmful. This would please Mikheil Saakashvili, who has expressed hope that Kulevi would be sanctioned, but what pleases him does not please the Georgian people. What pleases the opposition does not please Georgians. Exports have increased, but the sanctions regime is not being violated. Oil products are coming in and, after processing, are exported”, the prime minister concluded.