We work with several of Russia’s neighbors as we know Mowcow’s plans – US, EU sanctions officials

The US and the EU sanctions officials, who are on an official visit to Georgia, on Wednesday said they were working with several of Russia’s neighbors as Moscow wished to use their territories for evading the international sanctions imposed on it for invading Ukraine last year. 

 

In a press briefing in the Georgian capital, James O’Brien, the Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination in the United States President Joe Biden administration, said Russia was trying to circumvent the sanctions to “finance and secure its war machine”.

 

“What we have seen in several of these countries is an attempt to tighten their policies so that Russia is less able to use their territories for military purposes. We see this in the public statements of Turkey, in Kazakhstan, and also in the good, very extensive work by the government agencies of Georgia,” O’Brien said, adding the visit aimed at ensuring “further cooperation” for effective enforcement of sanctions against Russia. 

 

The official said he refrained from discussing possible sanctions or specific cases, claiming “we see here a great deal of work and a comprehensive approach from the government agencies of Georgia”. 

 

He noted if the current system continued to work, it would allow the sanctions officials to identify “all trade in goods that are most problematic and contribute to Russia’s efforts”. 

 

“This is all new and we are improving the system both in our countries and here on a daily basis”,he noted, adding “Georgia understands our request better than any other country”.  

 

In his comments, Kumar Iyer, the Director General for Economics, Science and Technology at the United Kingdom Foreign Office, said they were “grateful” for all the steps taken by the Georgian authorities to prevent the circumvention of sanctions by Russia.