Georgian president and government have differing views on sanctions  against Russia in Ukraine

ArmInfo. Irakli Kobakhidze, chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said the sanctions imposed against Russia because of the war in Ukraine were  ineffective. 

"The sanctions imposed by Georgia cannot play any role: Sanctions do  not work, and absolutely everyone admits this. Even if we do not  admit it, it is a fact," Kobakhidze said on Channel One. According to  him, the Georgian authorities are fully focused on avoiding  provocation, and not taking steps that could cause serious damage to  the state. "This pragmatic policy will continue to protect our state,  our country and our people," Kobakhidze said. At the same time he  pointed out that the former ruling party, the United National  Movement, "in no case" can teach the Georgian Dream team how to  conduct foreign policy. "We have confirmed with our experience that  we can conduct an effective foreign policy, and they confirmed that  their policy and the results of this policy were a complete disaster  for our country," Kobakhidze said.

Meanwhile, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said on CNN that  official Tbilisi is participating in all international financial  sanctions imposed by the West against Russia because of the war in  Ukraine.

"We participate in all international financial sanctions, and this  means something for the Georgian financial sector. And at the same  time, we participate in all resolutions that were adopted to support  Ukraine," Channel One quoted Zurabishvili. At the same time, she  stressed that talks about serious differences in the positions of the  president and the government of Georgia on the issue of sanctions are  exaggerated. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has previously stated  that Georgia will not join the anti-Russian sanctions, as this is  contrary to the national interests of the country and cannot stop the  hostilities in Ukraine. In reality, being part of the global  financial system, Georgia had to impose a number of restrictions on  banking and finance. Tbilisi also provides humanitarian and political  support to Ukraine. President of Ukraine Volodymyr  Zelenskyy  stated  that one of the reasons for recalling the ambassador from Tbilisi was  the Georgian government's position on sanctions. At the same time,  Grigory Karasin, Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of  the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, positively assessed  the position of the Georgian authorities and assured that "this fact  will not go unnoticed" by Russia.