Georgia not intending to cooperate with sanctioned Russian airline companies - ruling party MP
The Parliament’s official emphasised that taking into consideration Georgia’s Association Agreement with the EU, particular preconditions and perspectives for the EU integration, everything would depend on subsequent steps and the decision of the EU, by assessing the country’s compliance with the standards and conditions set for granting the bloc’s membership candidate status to Georgia. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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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.
Sarjveladze made the comment in response to a remark by Vedant Patel, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the United States Department of State, who said on Thursday that sanctioned Russian aircraft should not be allowed to enter Georgian airspace.
The remark came after Vladimir Putin’s announcement on Wednesday on resuming 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.
Sarjveladze said the same attitude towards the matter of not allowing Russia’s sanctioned aircraft to enter the country’s airspace had been first displayed by the Georgian Government just before the statement of the US State Department, stressing the restoration of direct flights from Russia would not affect Georgia's political integration into the European Union.
It will not be “fair” or “honest” if anyone, including the domestic opposition or their supporters abroad, tries to use this factor against the Georgian Government and the interests of the state, Sarjveladze said, adding Russia had unilaterally made the decision and consequently, Georgia would not be held responsible for this “in any way”.
The Parliament’s official also emphasised that taking into consideration Georgia’s Association Agreement with the EU, particular preconditions and perspectives for the EU integration, everything would depend on subsequent steps and the decision of the EU, by assessing the country’s compliance with the standards and conditions set for granting the bloc’s membership candidate status to Georgia.
He also pointed out that “Georgia's approach towards EU integration has not changed”, adding he hoped European colleagues would take into account the country’s advancements achieved over recent years before taking the decision on granting Georgia the membership candidate status.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
The Civil Aviation Agency of Georgia on Monday said flights between Georgia and Russia would only be carried out by airlines and aircraft not under the international sanctions placed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, following the Kremlin’s approval of a lifting of a ban on direct air connections with Georgia last week.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Monday said the country’s authorities were following the “strictest” examples of countries operating flights with Russia while observing international sanctions placed on the Kremlin for its invasion of Ukraine.
The Georgian Civil Aviation Agency on Monday issued a permit for the Russian airline Azimuth to operate daily flights between Russia and Georgia starting on Friday, following last week’s controversial lifting of air connections between the countries by the Kremlin.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday responded to criticism by domestic opposition and the United States Embassy over the restoration of direct flights between Georgia and Russia by pointing to the adoption of visa-free travel for Russian citizens by the former Government of Georgia following the 2008 war between the countries.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said the Georgian authorities would ensure airlines sanctioned for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would not be allowed to operate at Georgian airports, following the Kremlin’s lifting last week of its ban on flights with Georgia.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said the Government’s “pragmatic” policy with Russia was aimed at avoiding harm to Georgia and its citizens.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday told the ongoing Qatar Economic Forum in Doha his Government’s “clear” position that airline companies sanctioned for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would not operate in Georgia.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Monday said the restoration of direct flights between Russia and Georgia could “not be viewed in the same context” as situations facing other countries in their considerations with the Kremlin.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday claimed ambassadors of European Union countries had “practically demanded” from the Georgian Government to impose sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in their meeting with Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Monday.
The Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia on Tuesday said the scheduled entry of Astoria Grande, a cruise ship sailing under the flag of Palau, in Batumi port in the country’s west was free from international sanctions imposed against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.
Astoria Grande, a cruise ship that has entered Georgia’s Batumi port, has arrived in the harbour from Turkey and is free from the international sanctions imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, the Maritime Transport Agency of the country said on Thursday.