The claims by Ukrainian military intelligence would be considered “premeditated misinformation” in case of no evidence being presented, the SSS [State Security Service] said, adding such act would be an “extremely unfriendly and provocative step” aimed at provoking internal unrest in Georgia.
Rustavi2
April 5, 2022
I do not want to believe that the information of the Ukrainian intelligence is true. Such a comment made today the former President of Georgia, while talking about the information disseminated by the Main Directorate Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
“It was reported yesterday that military units of the Russian army are being supplied through Georgia. I do not want to believe that this is true, but Ukrainian intelligence usually relies on British and American intelligence information.
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“Georgia cannot participate in this, capitulation is being prepared, they are preparing us to surrender.
“Let them show us a list of what is sanctioned. If these products are really stopped at the border, there should be an instruction that should be published and only then can it be believed,” said Mikheil Saakashvili.
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Civil Georgia
April 4, 2022
Georgia Aids Russian Smuggling, Ukraine Claims
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry Intelligence alleged today that Moscow is establishing a channel for smuggling through the Georgian territory.
“With the imposition of international sanctions, the Russian Federation has lost the ability to supply a large range of military, dual and civilian goods,” it said, adding: “to circumvent the sanctions, Russian agents set up smuggling channels, which pass, in particular, on Georgian territory.”
“At the same time, representatives of the Georgian security services were instructed by the political leadership not to interfere with the activities of the smugglers,” alleged the Ukrainian military intelligence.
As per the same statement, the possibility of resumption of air traffic between Georgia and Russia, halted by Vladimir Putin since June 2019 over the anti-occupation protests in Tbilisi, is also being considered.
No other concrete details were provided in a brief statement by the Ukrainian intelligence.
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Agenda.ge
April 5, 2022
The State Security Service (SSS) of Georgia on Tuesday urged Ukraine’s military intelligence to provide evidence of claims of secret ties between Georgian and Russian state services for organising smuggling of sanctioned goods through Georgian territory.
The Service’s response came following allegations of “secret connections” of Georgian agencies with relevant services of the Russian Federation for organising the smuggling of goods sanctioned for Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine.
The investigative body called on the Ukrainian side to provide “immediate” evidence of the information for legal action, noting the Georgian Government “will be uncompromising” in any possible case of such a crime, noting such acts would be a particularly serious criminal offence under the Georgian law.
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The claims by Ukrainian military intelligence would be considered “premeditated misinformation” in case of no evidence being presented, the SSS said, adding such act would be an “extremely unfriendly and provocative step” aimed at provoking internal unrest in Georgia.
The Service said such deliberations would “willingly or inadvertently” serve “only the interests of the forces hostile” to Georgia.
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Civil Georgia
April 5, 2022
Tbilisi: Ukrainian Chargé Unable to Back Up Smuggling Claims
Georgian Foreign Ministry said Ukraine’s Chargé d’Affaires Andrii Kasianov “could provide no evidence” to back up Kyiv’s claim that Tbilisi allows Russia to set up a smuggling route through Georgia during a meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Teimuraz Janjalia today.
In the meeting the Georgian side meanwhile again denied the allegation and relayed relevant the positions of the Finance Ministry and State Security Service to the Ukrainian diplomat, the Foreign Ministry reported.
The Georgian diplomats also stressed that spreading such information harms relations between the two countries and puts Georgia’s security in jeopardy, according to the report.
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Ukrainian Embassy in Tbilisi has not issued a public statement about the meeting.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry Intelligence claimed on April 4 that Georgia’s political leadership had instructed security services not to interfere with the activities of Russian smugglers, trying to circumvent international sanctions through a route in Georgia.
The accusation came amid already strained relations between Tbilisi and Kyiv, after Ukraine recalled its Ambassador to Georgia over the “immoral position” of Irakli Garibashvili’s cabinet on Russia sanctions and for barring Georgian volunteers from flying to Ukraine.
Georgian officials have also seemingly defied Kyiv’s calls to distance from Moscow’s decision to allow Georgian dairy imports.
Amid growing criticism from Kyiv, Georgian Dream leadership has argued that former United National Movement officials “occupying some quite high positions in Ukraine” are influencing the decisions of the Ukrainian authorities.
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Civil Georgia
April 4, 2022
Tbilisi Denies Ukraine’s Claims Over Aiding Russian Smuggling
The Finance Ministry of Georgia rebuffed today Ukraine’s allegations over aiding Russian smuggling of military, dual and civilian through the Georgian territory.
“This is a completely baseless and absurd accusation,” said Georgia’s Ministry of Finance.
“Since the very first days of the imposition of international sanctions on the Russian Federation, Georgia has been exercising strict control over all customs checkpoints in the country and has been monitoring incoming and outgoing cargo.”
The Ministry of Finance asserted “with full responsibility” that any goods, both military and dual-use, and all other sanctioned products “are subject to strict customs control by the Georgian Government.”
“All our international partners are informed about this in detail. Georgia will continue to exercise strict control in this area and share information with partners.”
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry Intelligence said earlier today that Moscow – hit by the sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine – is establishing a smuggling channel through the territory of Georgia.
“Representatives of the Georgian security services were instructed by the political leadership not to interfere with the activities of the smugglers,” the Ukrainian military intelligence alleged.
Anti-bellum 