Georgian officials announced the resumption of direct flights to Russia, a move that immediately drew criticism from Ukraine and the European Union.
Georgian Airways, the national airline of Georgia, will resume direct flights to Russia from May 20, the Georgian Civil Aviation Authority announced today. Accordingly, Georgian Airways will operate seven flights a week to Moscow.
The Georgian Civil Aviation Authority announced on May 15th that it has granted permission to the Russian airline Azimuth to operate flights between Moscow and Tbilisi. This move comes after Russia last week lifted its ban on direct flights between the two countries, which had been in place since 2019, and granted visa-free entry to Georgian citizens.
The European Union (EU) and Ukraine have criticized Georgia. The EU expressed regret over Georgia's decision, amid the alliance's closure of its airspace to Russian aircraft in response to Moscow's military operation in Ukraine.
"The actions of Georgian authorities raise doubts about the country's path to EU membership," said Peter Stano, spokesman for the EU's foreign affairs agency.
"The world is isolating Russia to force them to stop the war, but Georgia is welcoming Russian airlines and resuming flights to Moscow," Oleg Nikolenko, spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, wrote on Twitter, adding that "20% of Georgia's territory is still occupied by Russia without punishment," referring to the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Russian and Georgian officials have not commented on the information.
A Boeing 737 aircraft of Georgian Airways takes off from Schiphol Airport, Netherlands, in September 2021. Photo: Reuters
Georgia is a former Soviet republic in the Caucasus region. Relations between Russia and Georgia have been strained since the outbreak of military conflict in 2008, when Georgia attacked the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia launched its military intervention in Georgia on August 8, 2008, which ended after five days of fighting. Georgia suffered heavy losses in terms of personnel and defense infrastructure.
Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and maintained a military presence in the two regions, asserting that this was in accordance with the wishes of the local population. Georgia and the West objected, calling it an "illegal invasion." Russia and Georgia subsequently severed diplomatic relations.
Georgia has recently been seeking to balance its relations with Russia and is also hoping to join the EU. Georgia does not participate in Western sanctions against Russia but has also stated that it will not allow Moscow to use its territory to circumvent sanctions.
Georgia applied for EU membership last year along with Ukraine and Moldova, following Russia's offensive in the neighboring country. In June 2022, Brussels granted candidate status to Kyiv and Chisinau, while requiring Tbilisi to implement reforms first.
Location of Russia and Georgia. Graphic: DW
By Như Tâm (According to Reuters, AFP )
Source link
Comment (0)