Russian aviation agency allows S7 Airlines to carry out flights to Kutaisi after ban is removed

The Russian aviation agency has allowed S7 Airlines to carry out flights between Kutaisi and Moscow as soon as direct flights between the two countries are restored, Sova News and RIA Novosti report.

The Russian airline has been given consent from the state agency to carry out flights seven times a week.

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The agency explained later that giving or prolongating permission to carry out flights “is an ordinary procedure,” and the company which was granted the right will be able to fly to Georgia after the ban on flights, imposed by the Russian government starting July 8, is removed.

Georgian Minister of Economy Natia Turnava has confirmed that the decision "does not mean the restoration of direct flights," as Georgia has not received any official note about it. 

The restoration of flights is related to a range of formal procedures and our aviation agency has not received any official statement [from Russia] about the issue. However, we only welcome if such a decision is made and the direct flights are restored," Turnava said. 

Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani stated earlier this month that direct flights between Georgia and Russia should be restored as it is “beneficial for both countries.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Ivanov also said that he accepts the restoration of direct flights.

Russia imposed the flight ban after Russian MPs were forced to leave Georgia on June 20 2019.

Georgians protested the address of Russian MP Sergey Gavrilov from the seat of the Georgian parliamentary speaker during the international forum – Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy early on June 20 in the situation when Russia occupies Georgian territories.