Russian Ambassador to Georgia Vladimir Chkhikvishvili has denied Georgian officials’ claims that Russia has imposed an “economic embargo” against Georgia by banning imports of Georgian wines.

“Russia was the number one investor in Georgia according to the last year’s figures, I do not understand what kind of blockade this is,” Vladimir Chkhikvishvili said on April 12 after talks with Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze.