Russia Lifts Sanctions On Georgian Dairy Import
By Khatia Bzhalava
Monday, March 7, 2022
Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported that Russia’s Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision agency Rosselkhoznadzor has permitted 15 Georgian companies to supply milk and dairy products to Russia.
According to Julia Melano, adviser to the head of Rosselkhoznadzor, the decision was made after the negotiations between the Head of Rosselkhoznadzor Sergey Dankvert and the Head of the National Agency of Food of the Georgian Ministry of Agriculture, Zurab Chekurashvili.
According to the National Food Agency, active efforts have been made for many years to increase the export of Georgian agricultural products to the world markets. As they note, negotiations have been held with the Russian Federation from 2020 and as a result, a decision has been made to allow the export of Georgian products to the Russian Federation and other countries.
David Arakhamia, chairman of the Servant of the People faction in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has released a video address regarding the lifting of economic sanctions on Georgian milk and wine by Russia. He emphasized that when Georgia was attacked by Russia, Ukraine, without considering its economic loss, showed all the support to Georgia.
Arakhamia is asking Georgian people to clarify this issue with the government, noting that “we would not want to see such a betrayal from the Georgian people.”
The decision to lift sanctions on Georgian dairy comes as large-scale international economic sanctions have been imposed on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, ongoing since February 24. Per the decision of Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Georgia has not joined the sanctions, citing national interests and the possible damage to the Georgian economy.
