Today, the Parliament heard the Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili answering the question of the 7-member group of MPs – David Usupashvili, Ana Natsvlishvili, Salome Samadashvili, Shalva Shavgulidze, Armaz Akhvlediani, Tamar Kordzaia and Dilar Khabuliani.

MPs asked about the measures undertaken by the Government to prevent, through the natural persons or legal entities registered on the Georgian territory or in other countries, the violation of the international sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation as a result of the military aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation and their representatives.

According to the Prime Minister, Georgia strongly supports the sovereignty of Ukraine and the restoration of its territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders.

“The Russian full-scale military aggression against Ukraine constitutes the gross violation of the fundamental norms and principles of the international law and the UN Charter, posing the unprecedented threats to the European security architecture. Since the very first day of this war, Georgia keeps expressing total solidarity to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, which is proved by the respective political and diplomatic steps within the bilateral and multilateral formats as it is absolutely impossible to act otherwise – we enjoy the historical friendship we Ukraine. Our countries share common European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The high officials of our country keep condemning the Russian military aggression against Ukraine in their statements. The Parliament of Georgia was one of the first institutions to adopt the Resolution on the possible military escalation in Ukraine and condemning every aggressive intention against the sovereign country. On April 6, the Parliamentary Delegation of Georgia, headed by the Speaker, Shalva Papuashvili, visited Ukraine and accompanied by the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, visited the war-affected cities of Bucha and Irpin. The diplomatic representations of Georgia abroad also keep expressing their support to Ukraine against the background of the recent developments”, - the Prime Minister stated.

He introduced meticulous information about the supportive steps of the Government for Ukraine.

“Georgia was amongst 96 UN member states co-sponsoring the Resolution “Aggression against Ukraine”. Georgia was one of the main co-sponsors of the UN General Assembly Resolution on Humanitarian Consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Resolution was co-sponsored by 90 states and approved by 140 countries. Georgia approved the enactment of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism and co-sponsored the UN Human Rights Council Resolution imposing the responsibility on Russia for its aggression against Ukraine. Georgia also approved the Decision of the CoE Committee of Ministers of February 25, on the second day of the war, on the suspension of the representative rights of Russia to the Committee of Ministers and Parliamentary Assembly. The Georgian Government supported the Decision of the Committee of Ministers of March 16 on the immediate expulsion of Russian from the Council of Europe. Georgia is amongst the countries that appealed to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for the investigation of the war crimes committed on the territory of Ukraine. Our Government was the main co-sponsor of the Draft Resolution of the UN General Assembly on the suspension of the membership of the UN Human Rights Council for Russia. Overall, starting since February, the number of our statements, declarations and decisions supporting Ukraine to the international organizations achieves 235”.

The representatives of the financial sector of Georgia adopted the directive of the National Bank of Georgia concerning the fulfillment of the sanction requirements. As the reporter noted, the Georgian Government keeps providing significant humanitarian aid to Ukraine and is one of the most distinguished in this regard in the world.

“Our Government has already allocated 7 ml USD for the aid of the Ukrainian people, including the Ukrainian citizens arrived in Georgia, including 1 ml GEL has been allocated from the Reserve Fund of the Government. Georgia keeps providing up to 28 000 war-affected Ukrainians residing in Georgia with aid. This is an uninterrupted process and we intend to allocate an extra 7 ml USD within the year. As of the present, Georgia has sent up to 1000 tons of humanitarian aid to Ukraine by air and by land. According to the Post of Ukraine, Georgia occupies first place amongst 191 countries in terms of the provision of humanitarian aid. Georgian Government ensured the call operators for the Ukrainian citizens and provided them with the accommodation, food, clothes and all items they may need in Georgia. Also, let me remind you that as the Education and Science Ministry ordered, Public School N41 now has Ukrainian-lingual classes, and Ukrainian children can also study in their native language in Batumi. In total, more than 900 Ukrainian children go to schools in Georgia. The Ukrainian citizens in Georgia enjoy the free municipal transport, museums, galleries and other sites”.

The Prime Minister noted that the private sector is also actively engaged in this process. The official position of our country concerning the restrictive measures against Russia is in full compliance with the position of the international community.

“Since 2014, Georgia joins the EU restrictive measures against Crimea and Sevastopol. Besides, on February 28, 2022, Georgia joined the EU restrictive measures in regard to Donetsk and Luhansk and various other countries share a similar position regarding the sanctions. As to the sanctions, I have been reiterating that the position of our Government is dictated deriving from our national interests. The key task we have outlined is to protect the interests of our citizens and our country. At the national level, Georgia has not imposed its own economic sanctions against Russia and will never impose providing our national interests. Naturally, we have many times declared and I would like to reiterate that we will not admit the illicit activity of any of the sanctioned individuals or the companies on the territory of Georgia. We will never allow the sanctioned companies or natural persons to use Georgia for evading the sanctions and none of such facts have yet taken place. However, we still become the target of various groundless accusations and slander from the opposition and unfortunately from the Ukrainian Government. I would like to personally underline that our legislation is in full compliance with international law and regulations. Besides, we enjoy the close relations and coordination with our strategic partners, keeping the exchange of information”.

Mr. Garibashvili noted that the National Bank and the financial institutions of Georgia act in full compliance with the financial policy established by the USA, EU and Great Britain.

“The Ministry of Finance, in line with the regulations of the EU Council and the European standards, ensures the customs control and supervision. Import and export are ensured through 20 checkpoints. Goods are subject to the control of more than 2000 customs officers. Also, let me stress that in view to enhance the customs control at Kazbegi check-point to monitor the arrival of the tourists, we increased the number of the officers and installed the X-ray scanners”.

The Special Customs Risk Management Group has set up new Customs Risks Profiles for the military, double purpose and other products enrolled in the list of sanctions. Any type of goods – military or double – enrolled in the sanctions by any of the countries shall be subject to strict customs control. The special control is established on the re-export of the goods to Russia imported from the USA, EU, Great Britain or other countries joining the sanctions. The procedures of the State Oil and Gas Agency allow the maximal insurance of the risks related to the sanctions.

“Also, let me inform you that the Defense Ministry ensures the control of the product with double purpose, and within its competences, holds the regional and international security events to protect the national interests”.

After the speech of the Prime Minister, the floor was given to the debates participated by the non-Faction MPs, Political Groups, Opposition and Majority Factions.