We hope that within six months the EU will be guided by the principle of justice and review the decision to sanction the Kulevi refinery - Georgian Foreign Ministry

The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its regret over the decision to include the Kulevi oil refinery in the 21st package of EU sanctions, - the statement issued by the Foreign Ministry states.

As noted in the statement, in the process of preparing the 21st package of EU sanctions, the Georgian side submitted relevant documentation to the European Commission, which confirms that the inclusion of the Kulevi oil refinery in the sanctions list has no factual and legal basis.

“Georgia fully takes into account the sanctions regime imposed by the European Union, the context of this regime and takes all measures to ensure that the territory of Georgia is not used for the circumvention of sanctions. Cooperation with the European Union in this direction is based on the principles of transparency and openness.

Within the framework of this cooperation, the relevant Georgian agencies constantly ensure the timely provision of all necessary information and explanations to the European Union institutions. The effective work of Georgian state institutions is also confirmed by the fact that to date no facts of circumvention of EU sanctions have been recorded on the territory of Georgia.

During the preparation of the 21st package of EU sanctions, the Georgian side submitted comprehensive information and relevant documentation to the European Commission, which unequivocally confirms that the inclusion of the Kulevi Oil Refinery in the sanctions list has no factual or legal basis.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia "It is hoped that the relevant services of the European Commission and the EU Member States will be guided by the principle of fairness and will review the decision within the six-month period specified in the decision," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. "Georgia remains ready to cooperate with the EU institutions and share all necessary information with them," it said.

For information, the 21st package of EU sanctions includes the oil refinery in Kulevi, with a six-month period for the sanctions to take effect.