Sanctioned Russian aircraft “will not enter” Georgian airspace - ruling party head
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said international partners had praised Georgia “many times” for acting in line with international sanctions against Russia. Photo: Georgian Dream press office
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Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said Russian aircraft sanctioned by the international community following the country’s invasion of Ukraine would not be allowed to enter Georgian airspace, in response to the Russian Government's move on Wednesday to resume direct flights with Georgia.
Published on Wednesday, the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decree resumed air travel between the two countries - which Moscow had cancelled in 2019 - while another decree introduced 90-day visa-free travel for Georgian citizens starting from May 15.
Kobakhidze stressed the Georgian Government had acted in “full accordance” with international measures against Russia since the beginning of the conflict, with “not a single incident” recorded to demonstrate Russia’s evasion of the sanctions through its use of Georgian territory or financial institutions.
We have heard a number of unfounded allegations on Georgia’s alleged use [by Russia] to circumvent sanctions. However, not a single evidence has been presented so far to back such claims. The Georgian Government will not allow circumvention of the sanctions”, Kobakhidze said.
The party official however reiterated the Government had no plans to impose its own sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine, saying such a move would affect Georgian citizens and the country’s economy.
Flights between Russia and Georgia had been suspended by the former in response to rallies in the Georgian capital in 2019, sparked by the incident in which a Russian MP took the seat of the Georgian Parliament Speaker in the lawmaking body during an international religious conference, amid the ongoing occupation of Georgian territories by Russia.
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 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.
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 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.
Peter Stano, the Spokesperson for the External Affairs of the European Union, on Thursday encouraged the Georgian Government to align with the bloc and other countries in their airline sector sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday maintained no flights involving aircraft under international sanctions for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would be allowed in Georgia, following the Russian Government’s decision on Wednesday to lift its ban on flights with Georgia.
The European Union has been still trading with Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine, gaining up to $300 billion revenue for the country’s budget, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Thursday while commenting on EU’s criticism over Georgia’s trade, economic and flight ties with Russia.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said urging the country’s Government to impose bilateral sanctions on Russia for its aggression in Ukraine was meant “actually saying that Georgia must risk direct military confrontation with Russia”.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Human Rights Committee from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Saturday said Georgia “has no intention” of cooperating with Russian airline companies sanctioned by the international community for its invasion of Ukraine.