Ukraine announces new sanction package, including against Georgian Airways

MOSCOW. July 3 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has issued a decree putting into effect the National Security and Defense Council's decision of July 1, 2023 On Enforcing and Updating Special Personal Economic and Other Restrictive Measures (Sanctions), Ukrainian media reported referencing to Zelensky's decree published on the presidential website on Saturday.

"The president has imposed new sanctions on over 190 individuals and 291 legal entities, mainly Russians, their plants and companies, as well as the Georgian airline Georgian Airways, which has resumed flights to Russia, and its owner Tamaz Gaiashvili," Ukrainian presidential office chief Andrei Yermak said on social media.

Meanwhile, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has called unfair the sanctions on Georgian Airways and its founder.

"The today's decision made by certain representatives of the Ukrainian authorities regarding Georgian citizen Tamaz Gaiashvili is not the first harsh and unfair decision against the Georgian people made against the backdrop of our solidarity with Ukraine," Papuashvili told the press on Saturday evening.

Still, Tbilisi has gotten accustomed to such decisions of Kiev, Papuashvili said. The Ukrainian authorities have done much worse, for instance have given shelter to criminals wanted by Georgia, he said.

He mentioned former Georgian Justice Minister Zurab Adeishvili and former Georgian Deputy Interior Minister Gia Lortkipanidze among the wanted persons.

"One of them is now an advisor to the [Ukrainian] prosecutor general, while the other is a deputy head of the Ukrainian [counterintelligence] service. Two criminals are in hiding in Ukraine," Papuashvili said.