Economy Minister says Georgian authorities adopting “strictest approach” to sanctions for Russia flights

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.

Davitashvili was commenting after the Russian Government lifted its 2019-imposed ban on direct air connections with Georgia last week, and said aircraft and companies falling under the sanctions would not be allowed in Georgia.

Russia unilaterally suspended flights in 2019 and also unilaterally resumed flights [with the new decision]. We already received requests at the end of last week from several airlines, including Georgian [companies]. We had quite intensive work with experts to study what kind of practice exists in other countries who operate direct flights with Russia [on the backdrop of the sanctions]”, the Minister told the press.

The European Union has the so-called blacklist of sanctioned [companies]. Flight safety is important to us, and our decisions must be in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation requirements. Therefore, planes that do not have access to technical information, qualified repair and service cannot fly in the airspace of Georgia”, he also said in reference to the sanctions impacting serviceability and maintenance of jets in Russia.

The Minister also claimed there was “no unequivocal opinion” in the Georgian public on the resumption of direct flights to Russia.

There are different opinions. Anxiety of certain groups is understandable, but a large part of the population may benefit from direct flights. This has a social significance, because ethnic Georgians, citizens of Georgia living in Russia could not enjoy direct traffic [during the ban on flights]. This will improve their social situation”, he pointed out.

Earlier today, the Civil Aviation Agency of Georgia 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”. 

The Agency as well as the United Airports of Georgia both confirmed that flights between Georgia and Russia would only be carried out by airlines and aircraft not under the international sanctions placed on Russia.