When news broke that the Ozon marketplace was launching a new branch in Georgia, the city’s mayor underscored Georgia’s openness to foreign businesses, including those from Russia, as long as sanctions did not apply. The remark, reported by TASS, framed Georgia as a welcoming stage for international commerce where regulatory hurdles would not bar sanctioned entities from operating within Georgian borders.
According to the mayor, the entry of any individual or company, Russia included, would be possible provided they comply with sanctions and local laws. The emphasis was on practical access to the market, the ability to hire local staff, and the chance to establish operations without unnecessary friction. The sentiment reflected a broader stance in which Georgia positions itself as a logistics and retail hub bridging Europe and Eurasia, while balancing its sanctions obligations on the global stage.
Ozon began accepting orders in Georgia on September 10, with initial delivery timelines indicating about two weeks for the first shipments. The platform’s catalog in the Georgian market features a vast assortment, exceeding 50 million items across multiple product categories. This rollout marked Georgia as the seventh country beyond the Russian Federation where Ozon has opened a marketplace presence. Beyond Georgia, Ozon’s delivery network already serves Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, illustrating a broader strategy to reach consumers across the region with consolidated e-commerce capabilities.
Georgia has publicly discussed its stance on anti-Russian sanctions, with the Ministry of Finance reporting that customs controls have prevented more than 2,000 sanctioned goods from entering the Russian Federation since 2022. The ministry also noted that Georgia does not impose its own sanctions on Russia, signaling a policy framework that prioritizes market access while maintaining aligned regulatory practices with international sanctions regimes. This position appears to be part of a careful balancing act intended to attract foreign commerce and investment without contravening international commitments.
The public record surrounding Georgia’s electoral administration, including pre-election concerns raised by the Central Election Commission, has been part of ongoing dialogue about transparency and governance. While the current report focuses on economic openness and sanctions alignment, it sits within a broader national narrative that weighs competitive opportunities against domestic political considerations. In this context, Georgia’s latest marketplace expansion and its official commentary on foreign business participation are read as signals of a government intent on maintaining an attractive business climate while safeguarding compliance with global norms.