On May 31, 2017, Georgian daily Rezonansi released an interview with MP Ada Marshania of opposition Alliance of Patriots party, where she claims that NATO tries to enter into dialogue with Russia. She also called on the Georgian government to establish a dialogue with the Russian Federation.
Ada Marshania: “NATO itself seeks dialogue [with Russia] and why do not we, who suffered misfortune, look for the means of real dialogue with Russia and why do not we try to establish real relations? It’s enough to make statements and speeches on this issue. Time is running against us.”
Marshania’s statement is false, because following Russia’s annexation of Crimea, NATO suspended all practical civilian and military cooperation with Russia. Due to Russia’s destabilization activities in Ukraine, NATO and EU member states imposed sanctions against Russia.
Fact 1. Following Russia’s annexation of Crimea, NATO suspended all practical civilian and military cooperation with Russia
Following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, NATO suspended all practical civilian and military cooperation with Russia. NATO stated that Russia has violated international law and has acted in contradiction with the principles and commitments in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council Basic Document, the NATO-Russia Founding Act, and the Rome Declaration. The alliance also said that a political dialogue in the NATO-Russia Council could continue to allow the parties to exchange views, first and foremost, on this crisis.
Fact 2. NATO and EU member states have imposed sanctions against Russia
In response to the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and deliberate destabilization of a neighboring sovereign country, the EU imposed restrictive measures against the Russian Federation.
- Economic sanctions, mostly involving Russian banks, energy and defense companies
- Diplomatic measures envisaging the suspension of negotiations over Russia’s joining the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Energy Agency, as well as cancellation of bilateral EU-Russia summits.
- Asset freezes and visa bans apply to 150 persons while 37 entities are subject to a freeze of their assets in the EU. This includes persons and entities responsible for action against Ukraine’s territorial integrity, persons providing support to or benefitting Russian decision-makers.
- Restrictions for Crimea and Sevastopol, including a ban on imports of goods originating in Crimea or Sevastopol unless they have Ukrainian certificates; a prohibition to invest in Crimea. Europeans and EU-based companies can no longer buy real estate or entities in Crimea, finance Crimean companies or supply related services; a ban on providing tourism services in Crimea or Sevastopol. European cruise ships may not call at ports in the Crimean peninsula, except in case of emergency. This applies to all ships owned or controlled by a European or flying the flag of an EU Member State.
Fact 3. In response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the United States has imposed sanctions against Russia
By Executive Order No. 13660 of March 6, 2014, the United States imposed sanctions against all individuals and companies, who are responsible for violating Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and/or misappropriation of assets belonging to the Ukrainian people. It also bans entry and travel of particular individuals and officials to the United States. Executive Order No. 13661 has further expanded the existing sanctions mostly in the direction of restrictions on property, which basically involved Russian officials and militaries. Executive Order No. 13665 bans transfers and investments in the Crimea Region.
Fact 4. On June 15, 2017 the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly, 97 to two, to enact new sanctions against Russia.
The bill envisages expanding the existing sanctions against Russia, as well as imposing new ones against the following persons:
- Russian financial institutions;
- Persons carrying out transactions in Russian government’s security and defense sectors;
- Persons responsible for human rights abuses in the Russian Federation, etc.
The bill envisages allocation of USD 250 000 000 for fiscal years 2018 and 2019 for countering Russian influence, also involving Georgia and Ukraine.
When the statements are made on dialogue and cooperation with Russia, it is crucial to review the chronology of recent developments in Georgia in the context of Russian-Georgian relations.
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