Georgia won’t harm economy with Russia sanctions, ruling party’s leader says

Georgia will not impose its own sanctions against Russia because it will harm its own economy, the leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party said.

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According to Irakli Kobakhidze, the sanctions against the country that has been illegally occupying part of its territory for fifteen years would be "a punishment for its own country", Newsgeorgia.ge reports.

"We have calculated what imposing sanctions against Russia would do to Georgia's economy," Mr Kobakhidze was quoted as saying.

"For example, we had double-digit economic growth, of more than 10 percent, last year. And if we had imposed our own sanctions, we would have had a double-digit economic decline, at least 10 to 18 percent."

Georgia’s ruling party leader further accused the opposition, which has been demanding that Russia sanctions be introduced, of trying to "ruin the country".

While Georgia joined international sanctions over Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, it refused to impose any restrictions of its own.

Moscow has repeatedly praised Tbilisi for taking a "restrained stance" on Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Relations between Ukraine and Georgia soured last year, with Tbilisi refusing to let Georgian volunteers join Ukraine’s International Legion and help Kyiv militarily.