Ukraine slams Tbilisi for its possible move to export certain products to Russia

The Ukrainian government has criticized Tbilisi for its possible move to  allow local dairy companies to export their products to the Russian market amid hostilities in Ukraine.

“It should be stressed that Russia made this decision (to lift embargo on Georgian dairy products, wine) at a time when the Georgian government refused to join the EU sanctions against Russia (for its invasion of Ukraine),” said the Ukrainian MFA.

“We believe that strengthening trade relations with Russia, a force which is  attacking peaceful Ukrainian cities with rockets and bombs and is killing innocent people, including children, is absolutely unacceptable,” the MFA note.

The statement reads that trade with Russia strengthens the latter, and the benefits of this trade ‘are imbued with the blood of the Ukrainian people.’

“We call on official Tbilisi to distance itself from the decisions of the Russian Federation whose leaders are violating international law and committing war crimes in Ukraine,” Kyiv says.

Ukraine says that due to the aggression of 2008, ‘Georgians, unfortunately, are well aware of the horror of the war in which the Ukrainians are now.’ 

“At the same time, it seems that the Georgian government has forgotten all this and is now trying to use the moment for personal gain,” Kyiv said.

Russia’s Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service (Rosselkhoznadzor) said last week that 15 Georgian companies were “allowed” to import dairy products to Russia.

According to the Georgian National Food Agency, export negotiations with Russia began in 2020.

Russia has been trying to occupy Ukraine for 11 days and overthrow the legitimate government.