Georgian Parliament Speaker rejects British Ambassador's call for Russian sanctions, warning of “escalation and war”

On the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili has publicly pushed back against calls from the British ambassador for Georgia to impose bilateral sanctions on Russia.

In a social media message, Papuashvili argued that following such advice would lead the country toward a direct conflict with Moscow - a conflict he claims Georgia would have to face without international military support.

“On the fourth anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine, the British ambassador is calling on Georgia to impose sanctions on Russia. It must be stated unequivocally that imposing sanctions means escalation with Russia. Escalation means war, in which we would be alone. Sometimes, to provoke a war, throwing stones is not even necessary - verbal abuse is enough. We have seen this movie many times before and know what following others’ advice has led to”, he said.

“Four years ago, in the very first days of the war, it was stated firmly and clearly that imposing sanctions on Russia does not fall within Georgia’s national interests, and Georgia owes no one an apology for this position”, the speaker continued.

Papushvili further highlighted that British interests served the British people, not the Georgian people, adding that claims that ‘no one is asking Georgia to open a second front’ are mere rhetoric, as the facts indicate otherwise.

“Sacrificing others for one’s own interests is wrong and unjust - especially when it is known that such escalation would lead to war”, he concluded.