Parliament official: Delay in granting Georgia EU candidate status led to Russia’s “activation” - lifting flight ban, revoking visas
In this context, the Parliament official emphasised the importance of receiving the EU membership candidate status for Georgia “on time and without delay”. Photo via Parliament of Georgia
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Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday, said the delay in granting Georgia the European Union membership candidate status, which the country deserved to obtain last year, led to Russia’s “activation” and its decision to lift a ban on flights with Georgia and revoke visa requirements for citizens of the country.
Responding to the Russian Government’s decision to introduce 90-day visa-free travel for Georgian citizens starting from May 15 and resume air travel with Georgia, Talakvadze noted Russia had unilaterally imposed sanctions on Georgian citizens and now also unilaterally made the decision to lift them.
He slammed radical opposition for their “harmful and irresponsible” statements for “asking the Government to sanction their compatriots” by imposing visa requirements, and noted “we certainly do not agree with this, the Georgian authorities will not impose sanctions on Georgians”.
This is criticised by the people [representatives of previous Government] who in 2008 abandoned their own population in the war zone [during Russia-Georgia war], abandoned their own soldiers, and after that [...] this political force [United National Movement party] and their political leader [former President Mikheil Saakashvili] unilaterally revoked the visa regime [with Russia]”, Talakvadze stressed.
In this context, the Parliament official emphasised the importance of receiving the EU membership candidate status for Georgia “on time and without delay”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, on Wednesday, responded to the Russian Government lifting its ban on flights with Georgia and visa requirements for citizens of the country by saying it was a “sole decision” of official Moscow and the Georgian side “could not have any influence” on it.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, on Wednesday, said Georgia remained committed to its policy regarding international sanctions against Russia, imposed on the country for its invasion of Ukraine and would continue “close cooperation” with its partners after the Russian Government lifted its ban on flights with Georgia and visa requirements for citizens of the country.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday responded to the Russian Government lifting its ban on flights with Georgia and visa requirements for citizens of the country by saying the moves were designed to “create obstacles” for Georgia’s European integration.
Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili, on Wednesday, responded to the Russian Government’s decision to lift its ban on flights with Georgia and visa requirements for citizens of the country by saying that sanctioned airlines and ships would not be able to operate in Georgia, while unsanctioned ones would have an opportunity to perform direct flights.
TAV Georgia, the company operating Tbilisi International Airport in the capital city, on Thursday said the resignation of its former employee in an apparent protest could not have “any connection” with the Russian Government’s lifting of a ban on flights with Georgia on Wednesday.
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Thursday responded to the Russian Government lifting its ban on flights with Georgia and visa requirements for citizens of the country by saying it was a “unilateral decision” by Russia, and pledged continued observance of sanctions placed by the international country on the latter for its invasion of Ukraine.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Wednesday called on the Georgian Government to convene a Security Council meeting and discuss imposing a visa requirement for Russian citizens, after the Russian President on Wednesday announced his Government was revoking visas for Georgian nationals.