EU Ambassador to Georgia Pavel Kherchinsky, together with the ambassadors of EU countries, met with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Levan Davitashvili to convey to the Georgian authorities a demarche on the resumption of direct communication with Russia on behalf of 27 EU countries.
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The European Union emphasized that it was Russia that made the decision to resume flights, but it also needed the consent of the Georgian government to this.
I was instructed to convey a thesis agreed upon with 27 EU member states that we regret the decision of the Georgian government to allow the resumption of direct flights between Georgia and Russia, Gerchinsky told reporters after the meeting.
According to him, the Deputy Prime Minister repeated the arguments of the Georgian authorities that they would not allow the flights of sanctioned airlines and aircraft manufactured in the West, but he noted that the European Union collectively banned all flights to and from Russia and the flights of all Russian aircraft over EU territory. .
This is a very important step on the part of all 27 EU member states and other partner countries to put pressure on Russia and change its behavior towards Ukraine,” the ambassador said.
Recall, on May 19, the first direct flight from Moscow in four years landed at Tbilisi International Airport.
The resumption of air communication with Russia, for which the skies of the EU and the United States are closed, causes concern among the pro-Western part of the population, according to polls, in Georgia in an absolute majority.
Azimut’s Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft landed at Tbilisi International Airport, where a group of protesters with Georgian, Ukrainian and EU flags were waiting for it. Among other things, they shouted “You are not welcome here.” Police have already detained several protesters near the airport, media reported.
Background
In the summer of 2019, the Georgians closed the sky after a scandal with Russian MP Sergei Gavrilov, who, during a speech in the Georgian parliament, was comfortably reclining in the chair of its chairman. Then, like a match, a protest broke out. Its consequence was the ban on direct flights between the two countries, which still do not have diplomatic relations after the 2008 war.
On May 10, the way unexpectedly canceled the visa regime with Georgia. From May 15, Georgian citizens will be able to visit Russia for up to 90 days without issuing visas. Russian airlines were allowed to operate flights to Georgia, and travel agencies to sell tours. At the same time, Georgia issued a flight permit to the Red Wings airline, which had previously been sanctioned by Ukraine due to flights to the occupied Crimea.
Tbilisi’s motivation is to help the Georgian diaspora fly home from Russia faster.
Support for Putin’s decision was expressed by the head of the Foreign Ministry and a representative of the Georgian parliament.
Responding to criticism from the West and domestic political opponents that Tbilisi’s decision to resume direct flights to Russia is contrary to EU policy, which Georgia is aiming for, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said that since the country is not a member of the European Union, it is not obliged to adhere to it. course.
Source: Racurs
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