Georgia summons UK ambassador over sanctions statement on vessel SILVAR

Georgia's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said British Ambassador to Georgia Gareth Ward was summoned to a meeting with First Deputy Foreign Minister Giorgi Zurabashvili to discuss issues related to the implementation of international sanctions.

According to the ministry, the meeting focused on Georgia's compliance with international sanctions regimes and the work carried out by the government and relevant state agencies in this regard.

The Georgian side stressed that no violations of international sanctions by Georgia have been identified and said the country continues to cooperate fully with its international partners. Officials expressed concern over a recent statement by the British Embassy regarding the sanctioning of the vessel SILVAR, arguing that references to Georgia could create misleading perceptions and harm the country's interests.

Zurabashvili said the vessel was not subject to any international sanctions when it entered and operated in Georgia, noting that it held a valid classification from Lloyd's Register and had previously called at ports across Europe, Asia and Africa.

The ministry also noted that, prior to arriving in Georgia, the vessel had undergone a port state control inspection in Denmark without being detained, which it said demonstrated compliance with international maritime safety and technical standards.

According to the statement, the Georgian side described the tone of the embassy's announcement as unacceptable and stressed the importance of maintaining constructive cooperation between Georgia and the United Kingdom.

The meeting followed a 16 June announcement by the British Embassy that the vessel SILVAR had been included in the United Kingdom's latest package of sanctions targeting Russia-related activities.