PM rejects Iran sanctions evasion claims, calls report ‘false’, ‘betrayal’

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has dismissed allegations that Georgia was being used to circumvent sanctions on Iran, calling the claims “completely false” and describing them as “betrayal”.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Kobakhidze criticised opposition-aligned figure Giorgi Kandelaki, saying “everyone knows very well who Giorgi Kandelaki is”, and compared him to Sergo Ordzhonikidze, the Bolshevik revolutionary associated with the Soviet takeover of Georgia.

The prime minister said Georgia’s trade figures with Iran did not support allegations of sanctions evasion.

He added exports to Iran account for 0.5% of Georgia’s total exports, while imports from Iran represented 1.5% of total imports.

“When someone claims that Georgia is being used to bypass Iranian sanctions, this is ordinary betrayal,” he said.

Kobakhidze also alleged that unnamed “deep state” forces were attempting to prevent developments in Georgia from moving “in the right direction” by spreading what he described as false narratives.

He said the government would not allow such efforts to shape developments in the country.