Duma committee lauds Tbilisi’s refusal to impose sanctions on Russia

The Foreign Relations Committee of the Russian Duma has lauded the Georgian ruling power for its refusal to impose sanctions against Russia for invading Ukraine last year.  The committee commended Georgia’s leadership for prioritizing “national interests” and fostering economic growth, especially through a surge in Russian tourism.

This evaluation comes at a time when the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, is gearing up for the proposed 12th package of sanctions against Russia. The measures include a contentious embargo on Russian diamond trade. Critics argue that such actions contribute to the degradation of Europe across economic, social, and cultural-moral spheres.

Meanwhile, internal tensions in Georgia have come to the forefront as the opposition party, Lelo attempted to introduce the Georgia Protection Act in Parliament. The act, aimed at limiting Russian influence, covered a range of measures, including visa regulations, restrictions on land sales, and the imposition of an occupation fee for Russian business. However, the Parliament’s Bureau rejected the document, aligning with the current Government’s policy of not imposing sanctions against Russia.

Speaker of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, reiterated this policy, asserting that the country’s stance against sanctions had been in place for a year and a half. He dismissed the notion of imposing sanctions as self-deception and highlighted the opposition’s fluctuating position on the matter.