Goods transit through Georgia JAMnews

Goods transit through Georgia

Jim O’Brien, head of the US State Department’s Sanctions Coordination Office, announced an increase in transit of electronic goods through Georgia to Russia in an interview with the Georgian edition of Voice of America. According to him, the owners of companies that ship electronic goods to Russia are playing “roulette” as all countries must comply with sanctions.

“We speak publicly regularly. We would be happy to speak to individual companies if they have potential issues. Our colleagues at the Treasury Department, the Commerce Department and here at the State Department often communicate with business representatives, with trade associations. We have teaching materials. At the same time, we also point out the shortcomings. I just mentioned one of them. Critical electronics reach Russia via third countries. This may seem like a good business opportunity for someone in these countries, but be aware that, as we explain, some of these goods could end up on the battlefield. So business owners in any of these countries are playing roulette because even if they don’t know where those goods are going, they might be violating sanctions. So you have to be very careful and avoid such deals,” O’Brien said.

When asked if Georgia was among the countries that are voluntarily or unknowingly supporting Russia and helping it procure these “highly sensitive” electronics, O’Brien replied:

“Georgia is following the sanctions very diligently. However, we are seeing an increase in the transit of electronic goods through Georgia to Russia. As I mentioned at the beginning, most of this trade was quite legal until EU and G7 members imposed restrictions on these commodities. We expect companies that have been involved in such a trade to understand that it used to work, but now it has to stop.”

In addition, O’Brien mentioned travel restrictions to America imposed on four senior Georgian judges:

“According to our legislation, the introduction of these restrictions is actually mandatory. We see in this a strengthening of Georgia’s European aspirations. This is a standard step. Many well-informed people considered this measure to be timely. I think the facts and circumstances are known to everyone. And I don’t think a well-informed Georgian official could say that such a measure is unjustified.”

This has nothing to do with the “Magnitsky List,” says O’Brien:

“This is a separate legal entity, although it has the right to respond to the same circumstances. It is the law that obliges us to impose travel restrictions on officials engaged in these types of activities.”

On April 5, the US State Department imposed sanctions on Judges Mikhail Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, Irakli Shengelia and Valerian Tsertsvadze and their family members, barring them from the United States “on the basis of significant corrupt activities”. They are said to have abused their position. This emerges from a statement by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

Independent experts and human rights activists have said for years that Levan Murusidze and Mikhail Chinchaladze head a so-called “clan” of judges blocking reforms needed to strengthen ties between Georgia and the European Union.

Both judges are attached to the High Judicial Council, the main oversight body of the country’s judiciary. They are also believed to be associated with Bidzina Ivanishvili, the richest man in Georgia, the founder of the Georgian Dream and the informal ruler of the country.

Murusidze was also notable for his loyalty to the previous government – the United National Movement party.

A clause to improve the judicial system in Georgia was also included in the Charles Michel Agreement of April 19, 2021. The US ambassador later made such statements on several occasions. However, the government continued to appoint life judges to the Supreme Court.

On October 31, 2002, the Judges’ Conference elected two new judges to the High Judicial Council: Paata Silagadze and Giorgi Goginashvili. They are also believed to be members of the so-called Justice “clan”. Both were appointed life judges of the Tbilisi Court of Appeal.