Bank of Georgia won’t allow US sanctioned ex-official’s access to accounts

After TBC Bank, the Bank of Georgia on Wednesday said it would act in line with international sanctions and Otar Partskhaladze, the former Prosecutor General in 2013, would not have access to its accounts despite the decree by the National Bank on Tuesday, which restored Partskhaladze’s access to his assets until a domestic court discussed the validity of sanctions. 

“We adhere to and will continue to adhere to the requirements related to the sanctions of the US, the European Union and the United Kingdom,” the Bank of Georgia said. 

Partskhaladze, who had to resign after more than a month in office following a scandal over his alleged charges in Germany in early 2000s, has become the first Georgian citizen sanctioned by the US. 

Earlier this year the US also imposed only visa restrictions on three acting and one former Georgian judges for alleged corruption and “harmful” activities. 

In its notes over Partskhaladze, the US Department of State said he was promoting Russian interests in Georgia and could have Russian citizenship, which means he will automatically lose his Georgian citizenship, as the President grants dual citizenship to individuals only on exceptional occasions. 

The Georgian Justice Ministry earlier this week launched studying Partskhaladze’s citizenship issue. However, no official comments have been made so far.