In 2022, compared to 2021, the growth of Georgia's total exports amounted to 33 percent, while in the same period, exports to Russia increased by only 7 percent, Georgian Dream Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze writes on social network.

According to him, the goods imported from Georgia make up only 0.3 percent of Russia's total imports in 2022.

In addition, according to Kobakhidze, "it is a pity when the President was also persuaded to circulate this lie, who demanded a "categorical and fact-based answer" to the accusations."

"A couple of days ago, the journalist of CNN asked the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, a question based on fake information related to Georgia. In particular, the journalist said that there are reports about the transportation of sanctioned goods to Russia through different countries, and especially Georgia, and asked whether the next package of EU sanctions would solve this problem.

CNN is not an ordinary media outlet, and this fact clearly shows how large-scale the coordination is, which is directed against the national interests of Georgia. Accordingly, the false information voiced by the CNN journalist needs an immediate response.

If Georgia had exported sanctioned products to Russia, exports from Georgia to Russia in 2022 would have increased disproportionately. However, let's see what is actually happening:

In 2022, compared to 2021, the growth of Georgia's total exports amounted to 33 percent, while in the same period, exports to Russia increased by only 7 percent. During the same period, exports from Georgia to China increased by 20 percent, Azerbaijan - 27 percent, Turkey - 35 percent, USA - 36 percent, Bulgaria - 67 percent, Armenia - 129 percent, and Kazakhstan - 148 percent. The share of exports to Russia in the total exports of Georgia in 2022 not only did not increase, but significantly decreased, which unequivocally confirms the falsity of the information spread by the CNN journalist;

It should be noted that the goods imported from Georgia made up only 0.3 (!) percent of Russia's total imports in 2022. Against this background, when specific foreign media outlets claim that Russia is feeding itself with goods imported from Georgia, it is, to put it mildly, a very big lie;

It should also be noted that in 2022, more than 3/4 of the goods exported from Georgia to Russia were alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, agricultural products and ferroalloys;

Finally, let us remind you that while our country is being criticized for maintaining trade relations with Russia, EU countries pay Russia hundreds of millions of euros in imported goods every day (!). In February-August 2022, compared to the same period in 2021, imports from Russia increased by 33 percent in Germany, 24 percent in Poland, 100 percent in Italy, 84 percent in France, 51 percent in the Netherlands, 78 percent in Belgium, and 132 percent in Hungary, 142 percent in Greece, 51 percent in Spain, in Austria - by 139 percent, in Slovakia - by 71 percent, in Bulgaria - by 116 percent, in Romania - by 55 percent, in the Czech Republic - by 31 percent, in Slovenia - by 346 percent, in Croatia - by 68 percent, in Cyprus - by 138 percent , and in Luxembourg - by 262 percent.

When influential foreign media spread lies of this scale directed against the Georgian state, this is a serious problem. However, it is a bigger problem when the same lies are circulated by the Georgian radical opposition and its media outlets. This fact confirms once again that for these people, the national interests of Georgia mean nothing, and in fact, they are not in the service of Georgia, but in the service of a force hostile to it. Also, it is a pity that the President was also persuaded to circulate this lie, who demanded a "categorical and fact-based answer" to the accusations.

source: IPN