De facto Foreign Minister of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region Daur Kove says that Babushera Airport in Sokhumi will open for international flights anyway, despite the resistance of Tbilisi.
Georgia is trying to isolate Abkhazia from the rest of the world. This will not happen… A barking dog never bites,” Dove said.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry stated yesterday that Sokhumi airport will not be used for international flights, as this contradicts the law.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia Lasha Darsalia stated earlier today that if Russia launches flights to Sokhumi it will be another confirmation of occupation and the fact that it is Russia which controls Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
Russian media outlets report that the Russian government is trying to open the airport for international flights.
Carrying out international flights from the occupied Abkhazia region contradicts international law, Georgian law and the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO),” the Georgian Foreign Ministry says.
The ministry states that international flights have been suspended to and from Abkhazia since 1993, after the armed conflict in the region.
The ministry says that Georgian law on occupation bans international flights in the region, which is also supported by the ICAO.