Imposing sanctions on Russia means escalation – parliament speaker

Shalva Papuashvili, the parliament speaker of Georgia, on Monday said imposing individual sanctions on Russia – banning visa free travel or the cancelation of direct flights – would cause escalation with Russia that already occupies 20 percent of the Georgian territory. 

In his press comments, Papuashvili said “in the absence of any security or economic guarantees [from the west], noon will demand us put our people at risk”. 

The comment came following the Kremlin’s decision earlier this month to lift visa and travel restrictions with Georgia, amid its ongoing aggression against Ukraine, with Tbilisi accepting the moves, justifying them with “humanitarian benefits”. 

“Any such action, regarding the introduction of visas, closing the border, banning flights, this is a sanction, which means that the country is going to escalate with Russia. Escalation means that we are entering such a spiral, the consequences of which cannot be foreseen. Therefore, on the contrary, it is expected that There will be retaliatory measures that will ultimately mean that our country’s security will be threatened and our country’s economic well-being”, he said. 

He claimed the domestic opposition  that called for sanctions against Russia, were pushing the country to a new conflict with Russia.