The Georgian State Security Service (GSSS) called on Ukraine to "immediately provide" evidence of allegations by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate that Georgia may allow the Russian Federation to use Georgian territory for smuggling to circumvent international sanctions.

The GSSS note that "evidence" is mandatory for such serious allegations to be legally responded to.

"This action (aiding and abetting Russian smugglers) is a very serious criminal offense under Georgian law. The Georgian government will be uncompromising in any possible case of such a crime," the GSSS said.

The State Security Service said that a meeting with a representative of the Ukrainian Embassy in Georgia was held yesterday to exchange information.

The GSSS said that at the meeting they asked about the grounds for the dissemination of this information and asked to share detailed information on the issue, noting that the exchange of such information is stipulated by a number of interstate agreements.

"Otherwise the statement will be regarded as deliberate disinformation, an extremely unfriendly and provocative step aimed at provoking internal disturbances in Georgia, which voluntarily or involuntarily serves only the interests of forces hostile to Georgia," the State Security Service of Georgia said.

We should remind you that yesterday it was reported that the Russians were setting up a channel of smuggling of subsanctioned goods through the territory of Georgia. This was reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in its Facebook.