Georgia has imposed restrictions on the export of passenger cars from Georgia to Russia and Belarus on August 1 in line with the European Union’s 11th package of sanctions against Russia, the Revenue Service of Georgia reported on Wednesday.

The move was met with varied stances as the opposition doubts that Georgian territory might be used to bypass the sanctions against Russia. The ruling team claims that this decision anew ‘put an end to the opposition’s speculations’ and proves the nation fulfills all international sanctions ‘thoroughly.’

“The Georgian government is committed to eradicating all means of evading the sanctions,” vows Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Committee on Human Rights.

“Russia has been sanctioned so that it does not have the resources to wage war. Meanwhile, the Georgian Dream is trading immorally with Russia. As for the ban, we should have known that European and American cars cannot be delivered to Russia,” claims Paata Manjgaladze, Strategy Agmashenebeli opposition party member. 

Georgian Association of Auto Importers believes the said decision will ‘seriously damage’ the business since Russia was one of the major buyers, adding “cars are the third largest exporting goods to Russia.”

The official data shows that 3,786 cars worth 53 million dollars were exported from Georgia to Russia in the first half of 2023. Annual exports have soared by 274%.

The restriction on the re-export/export of vehicles imported from the U.S. to the territory of Georgia has been enforced since August 1, and the restriction on those imported from Europe will be enforced since September 26, in accordance with the 11th package of sanctions.

The restrictions entail “an extension of the ban on the export of luxury cars to all new and second-hand cars above a certain engine size (> 1.900 cm³), and all-electric and hybrid vehicles.”