More than 1,700 attempts to circumvent sanctions against Russia detected at Georgian customs
On Friday, Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili said that since the beginning of the full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine, customs officials have prevented 1,770 attempts to import goods into Georgia to circumvent sanctions against Russia.
According to Ukrinform, this was reported by Ekhokavkaza.
"After the introduction of sanctions, we have recorded 1,770 cases of refusal to return from the border of Georgia and (refusals - ed.) to perform customs procedures. As of today, 36 operational risk profiles are active, which automatically identify data on sanctions and initiate the identification of additional risk factors," the Minister said during an event on the occasion of the International Day of the Customs Officer.
It is noted that the Georgian authorities have not imposed economic restrictions on Russia at the national level, but claim to comply with international sanctions. At the same time, the country's international partners have repeatedly expressed concern about Russia's possible receipt of sanctioned goods through Georgia.
In particular, in June last year, James O'Brien, the head of the US State Department's Office of Sanctions Coordination, mentioned Georgia when talking about circumventing sanctions imposed on Russia. He noted that evasion of sanctions is still possible, and after the resumption of direct flights between Russia and Georgia, there was concern that planes departing from Georgian airports might be carrying sanctioned goods.
As reported, last May, after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees abolishing the visa regime for Georgian citizens and allowing direct flights with that country, flights between Georgia and Russia resumed.