Ukrainian forces have been battling Russian invaders since 24 February. A number of countries, including the United States, the European Union, Canada and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on Russia. On February 25 Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced "Tbilisi will not join international sanctions on Russia over its full-scale attack on Ukraine."

“I want to state clearly and unambiguously, considering our national interests and interests of the people, Georgia does not plan to participate in the financial and economic sanctions, as this would only damage our country and populace more,” he said.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center John E. Herbst told the Accent Tbilisi's decision is an example of a "policy of non-irritation" towards Moscow.

"For some time, the Government in Tbilisi has sought to continue Georgia's policy of seeking membership in NATO and the EU without taking additional steps to annoy the Kremlin. This statement falls into that pattern. I cannot say why the PM chose to make this statement at this time," Herbst said.

When asked about the assessment of the PM's statement, a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council, a former assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs during the Obama and George W. Bush administrations, Daniel Fried told the Accent:

"The Georgian government may have noticed the Georgian citizens on the streets of Tbilisi protesting Putin’s war. I hope so."

It should also be noted that Georgia voted in favour of suspension of Russia’s representation rights in the Council of Europe. It has a clear position at the UN on the violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and Georgia remains open its diplomatic missions in hot spots – Georgian Diplomatic Institutions in Ukraine - Embassy of Georgia in Kyiv and Consulate General in Odessa continue to work in emergency mode. Georgia has sent 100 tons of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. According to the Government, the humanitarian cargo, sent to Ukraine via Warsaw, includes thousands of first-aid products, over 30 different kinds of medications, and oxygen concentrators.