There are always attempts to use Georgia to circumvent sanctions, and among them, to a large extent, by European companies - so let them first of all look after their own companies that are trying to circumvent sanctions, - Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations, said in response to the removal of the Kulevi port from the 20th package of sanctions.

According to him, since 2022, the Georgian Revenue Service has suspended several thousand operations of cargo originating from the European Union, which were supposed to enter Russia bypassing the sanctions.

“I would like to remind not only the opposition, but also the European Union itself, that since 2022, the Georgian Revenue Service has suspended several thousand operations of cargo originating from the European Union that were supposed to enter Russia bypassing sanctions. There are always attempts to use Georgia to circumvent sanctions, and among them, to a large extent, by European companies. Therefore, let them first of all look after their own companies that are trying to circumvent sanctions. As for our government and institutions, they check all cargo and filter it for sanctions, and then give the green light to transport operations. We have declared this policy since 2022 and are purposefully following its implementation. If there are any problems, we are always ready to talk about it,” Nikoloz Samkharadze said.

For information, the EU Special Representative for Sanctions, David O'Sullivan, sent a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Maka Bochorishvili, stating that the EU has not included the Kulevi oil terminal in Georgia in the 20th package of sanctions against Russia.