Natia Turnava: The name and surname of the sanctioned citizen of Georgia is not important to us - saying that the decision of the NBG is for protecting any person and avoiding sanctions is an attempt to politicize it

The name and surname of a sanctioned citizen of Georgia is not important for us. Therefore, saying that the decision of the NBG is for protecting any person and avoiding sanctions is an attempt to politicize it, acting President of the National Bank of Georgia, Natia Turnava, said at a press conference.

According to her, when the sanction applies to any citizen of Georgia, the fundamental rights defined by the Constitution should be thoroughly protected in the process of enforcement of the sanction.

"This change applies only to the citizens of Georgia, it does not apply to any specific person, because interpretations have appeared. The name and surname of the sanctioned citizen of Georgia is not important to us, therefore, saying that the decision of the NBG is for protecting any person and avoiding sanctions is an attempt to politicize it. We are a national institution of a sovereign state, we fulfill and respect all international obligations, but in our actions we are guided by the Constitution and legislation of Georgia. Accordingly, it is our obligation, when a sanction applies to any citizen of Georgia, in the process of enforcement of this sanction, the fundamental rights defined by the constitution be thoroughly protected and this enforcement be carried out in compliance with the Constitution and legislation. This is the main essence of our decision", said Natia Turnava.

We remind you that the National Bank of Georgia made an exception regarding the citizens of Georgia in the procedure for the implementation of the sanctions regimes. The order of Natia Turnava, Acting President of the National Bank, has already been published in the Legislative Herald. It should be noted that the only citizen of Georgia, who was under international financial sanctions, is the former Prosecutor General Otar Fartskhaladze. In particular, according to the amendment, "international sanctions cannot be applied to a Georgian citizen, if there is no guilty verdict against them in the relevant case in the Georgian court".