Georgia’s government does not intend to join any sanctions effort against Russia, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has said, holding firm to what he called Tbilisi’s “pragmatic policy” amid a widening international response to Russia’s attack against Ukraine.
“I want to state clearly and unambiguously, considering our national interests and interests of the people, Georgia does not plan to participate in the financial and economic sanctions, as this would only damage our country and populace more,” Garibashvili told reporters on February 25.
Imposing sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine war will not only harm Georgia but also "devastate" its economy, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has said.
He made the observation while addressing the Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg Wednesday,
Garbashvili's government has refused to impose economic sanctions and direct flights from Russia to Georgia resumed last week.
"Not only would we harm Georgia, but we would also devastate our economy and jeopardise the interests of our country and our people if we were to impose any form of economic sanctions on Russia," Garbashvili said.
Interacting with Manus Cranny, Bloomberg Television anchor, the Georgian PM said Europe has not faced a challenge such as the Russia-Ukraine war since the Second World War.
"Therefore, this war affects all of us. Let me remind you that Georgia experienced a war in 2008, and we know precisely what it entails. We are aware that approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory is currently occupied by Russia; this is the current status quo. What will happen tomorrow, I don't know, and I can't say. I believe nobody knows."
He noted that there are no signs that the war would end soon and that is the problem. “We also do not witness enough efforts from the international community to take proper measures, encourage consultations and promote peace talks,” he noted.
Garbashvili criticised the international community for not taking action, including sanctions, during the 2008 conflict between his country and Russia.
“Let me go back to the war in 2008. Do you remember if anyone imposed sanctions on Russia because of our war? Where is the logic of ‘Our war is not a war’ but in Ukraine it is'? No one in the world had proper reactions, and I would say adequate reactions, to that war. Well, I have to say that we were quite disappointed that business as usual continued with Russia after the 2008 war," he said.
"The result of that war, a devastating war, is that 20% of our territory was taken over by Russia. Russia built two military bases on our historic lands."
Garibashvili also highlighted the relationship between Georgia and the US, stressing that the latter is an important strategic partner. “We are very thankful for everything America has done for us, as well as Europe. Georgia has its sovereign rights to have its own national interests. And as I explained, we have economic trade relations with Russia, we have 1mn ethnic Georgians, our citizens, who live in Russia. To have flights with Russia is very normal.
"It doesn’t mean that we are engaged in some kind of political consultation. As I said, this is part of economic trade relations... like the European Union does, like America does."
Regarding China, he said: “With China, we have a very good relationship. We have a free trade agreement with China, and we do increase trade, economic ties with China. What China has been trying to do during this crisis is a really wise move because China has been trying to mediate between Ukraine and Russia.
"I would welcome efforts from any country, from any leader, who would encourage peace talks, mediate, negotiate, and who would try to make some efforts to resolve the issue,” the Georgian prime minister added.
Russian MFA blasts US threat to sanction Georgia
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Wednesday took a dig at threats by the US State Department to levy restrictions on Georgia over its move to resume flights with Russia.
"There’s no other way to call [the statements by the State Department] than interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states," the diplomat said at a news conference. "We regard such mentoring statements from Washington as interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states and in their relations with third countries and overt pressure."
According to Zakharova, there is no and cannot be a "rational explanation" for why the US considers it possible to comment on agreements between two sovereign countries.
"If the US places human rights at the forefront of its policy everywhere, then probably they should look at this specific humanitarian situation from the human rights perspective. There is nothing more difficult than crossing the border between the two countries that have had such close ties, including long-standing familial and humanitarian ties, when there’re no direct flights," she went on to say.
Earlier, the US State Department threatened to levy sanctions on any company that provided maintenance services to Russian planes at Georgia's airports. Direct flights return Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 10 signed a decree to abolish visas for Georgian citizens starting from May 15. In another decree, he lifted a ban on direct flights by Russian airlines to Georgia that Moscow had stood since 2019. The Russian airline Azimut was the first airline to start flights on May 19, after obtaining permission from Georgian aviation authorities. Georgian Airways was the second airline to start direct flights between Georgia and Russia. Russia introduced visas for Georgians in 2000, while Georgia abolished visas for Russians in 2012. According to Georgian legislation, Russian citizens can visit the country without a visa and stay for up to one year. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed by Tbilisi in 2008 after Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries
