Georgian authorities rule out any possibility of contraband of sanctioned goods to Russia

Irakli Garibashvili, the Georgian Prime Minister, has treated the allegations that the country is smuggling sanctioned goods to Russia, including military goods, put forward by the Ukrainian authorities, as slander. Any "gray import" sanctioned by authorities is practically excluded, because otherwise the country will suffer huge losses in the international arena, Georgian economists believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 25 the Georgian authorities announced that the country would not join the sanctions against Russia. The Premier Garibashvili explained that the sanctions would cause serious damage to winemakers and farmers; and tourism would also suffer. In her turn, on April 1, the President, Salome Zurabishvili, said that the country supported sanctions against Russia, which is why it is forced to endure financial losses.

In Georgia, Garibashvili's statement about the refusal to join the European sanctions against Russia was taken with bewilderment.

Georgia's Ministry of Finance has treated the Ukraine's accusations as "unjustified and absurd."

Demur Giorkhelidze, an economic expert, doubts that Georgian businessmen will start smuggling supplies to Russia so as not to jeopardize their businesses. Besides, smuggling to Russia "puts Georgia itself at huge risk," which is unprofitable for the country.