We repeat, Georgia will not join sanctions imposed against Russia - Kobakhidze

"Georgian Dream" reiterates that it will not join the sanctions imposed against Russia, and claims that the "War Party" has engaged foreign lobbyists in this regard, who have urged the Georgian authorities to join the sanctions.

Kobakhidze "reminded" everyone that the world did not impose sanctions against Russia for the August 2008 war:

No country in the world has imposed any sanctions against Russia in the wake of the 2008 Russo-Georgian war, despite the fact that Russia occupied 20 percent of Georgia's territory as a result of the war. Hundreds of Georgian soldiers and civilians were killed, 30,000 Georgian citizens became refugees, Russia bombed Georgian cities and completely destroyed hundreds of Georgian villages, Georgian churches and other cultural heritage sites.

Despite all this, the Georgian government did not impose sanctions against Russia after the 2008 war either ...

"It is incomprehensible how they can ask us to impose sanctions against Russia because of the ongoing Russian military aggression in Ukraine, when the Georgian government has not done so even after its own country was occupied," Kobakhidze said.

According to him, after the then government partially abolished visa regime with Russia in 2010 and the Georgian Dream Party "expanded trade and economic" relations in 2012, no one raised critical remarks.

Once again, we call upon the war party, represented by the National Movement, if they would support the introduction of sanctions, to be direct and open about it, instead of secretly agitating, provoking and hiring foreign lobbyists. We reaffirm that the government of Georgia will not be able to cause any harm to Russia by imposing economic sanctions, and it will deal a heavy blow to its own country and population.

Therefore, we once again emphasize that our position regarding sanctions is unchanged, and no one can change this position through provocations, secret campaigns or foreign lobbyists. We confirm that Georgia will not join the sanctions against Russia. In parallel with political and humanitarian support for Ukraine, the Georgian government is uncompromising and principled in safeguarding the interests of the Georgian state and the Georgian people," Kobakhidze said.