Civil Aviation Agency: flights between Russia, Georgia to only involve non-sanctioned airlines
The GCAA 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. Photo: GCAA
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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.
The body said applications submitted by Russian-based airlines for flights to Georgia would be “subject of detailed study and verification by various mechanisms in relation to sanctions”, and noted it was studying examples of countries that complied with the sanctions while also operating direct air traffic with the country.
In comments on the topic that caused a stir in the public since the Russian Government’s lifting of the ban it had imposed in 2019, the Agency also revealed it had received applications from “several airlines” for permissions for regular air traffic between the two states.
The United Airports of Georgia also released a statement today, reassuring the public that flights at all three international airports of Georgia - in the capital city of Tbilisi, the western city of Kutaisi and the Black Sea city of Batumi - would be operated only by airlines and aircraft not on the list of sanctioned entities.
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.
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.
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 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.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday pledged “not a single" airline or aircraft sanctioned for Russia's invasion of Ukraine would be allowed to operate in Georgia following the resumption of direct flights between the countries this week.
Irakli Karkashadze, the Director of the United Airports of Georgia, on Saturday said “none of" Russia's airlines or aircraft, sanctioned for its invasion of Ukraine, would be served at Georgian airports after the resumption of direct flights between the countries this week.
The Georgian Civil Aviation Agency on Thursday said it would study the latest sanctions imposed on the Belarus national carrier Belavia before making an “appropriate response” on permissions for the airline to operate in Georgia.
Georgian Civil Aviation Agency on Thursday said the media claims alleging that the Russian-based Rossiya Airlines would start operating in Georgia were “unverified” and noted that the airline’s application to operate in the country had been rejected twice by the Agency.