US wants to make sure it knows what’s being loaded on planes flying back from Georgia to Russia

We want to make sure we know what is being loaded on those planes going back to Russia from Georgia, James O’Brien, the Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination at the US State Department, said on Wednesday. 

 

Responding to Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top sanctions official stressed Georgia’s customs services were taking “real steps” to limit the shipment of items needed for ammunition to Russia. 

 

However, he noted “we want to make sure that they [the Georgian Government] have full control over  borders – be it air or land. It is a continuous work and we provide a lot of support. They are good partners in terms of transparency.” 

 

He added the “question now is whether we can get better data in the future and whether we can see more clearly what is happening with the recently resumed flights between Georgia and Russia,” in reference to Tbilisi’s acceptance to direct flights to Russia following Moscow’s move in May to lift travel and visa restrictions with Georgia amid its ongoing aggression against Ukraine. 

 

O’Brien, along with UK and the EU sanctions officials, visited Georgia in June.