The resumption of flights between Georgia and Russia will pose a threat of sanctions to the companies that will serve Russian companies at Georgian airports, says a representative of the U.S. State Department in an interview with Voice of America.
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“Many Western countries, including the United States, banned Russian aircraft from entering their airspace. We will be concerned if flights between Russia and Georgia are resumed, given that companies at Georgian airport may become targets of sanctions if they serve aircraft that are subject to additional import and export controls”.
According to the State Department, the entire Western society has distanced itself from the brutal Russian regime and now is not the time to increase engagement with Russia.
The issue of the resumption of flights between Georgia and Russia, which was suspended in July 2019 by Russian president Vladimir Putin’s decision, became relevant after recent statement by Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, who publicly praised Georgian authorities for their “courage” that despite the pressure from the West, they didn’t join imposed sanctions against Russia. As Lavrov noted, he is glad that “connections with Georgia are actively developing” and expressed hope that it will be possible to restore direct flights soon. Later, Grigory Karasin, head of the International Affairs Committee of the Council of the Russian Federation and former deputy of Lavrov, said that Russia is ready to resume flights, although “it takes two to tango.”
Georgia’s ruling party welcomes the restoration of flights by Russia. Chairperson of Georgian Dream Irakli Kobakhidze explains this by saying that the sanctions imposed in 2019 aggravated the conditions of 800 thousand of Georgian citizens living in Russia.
“What needed a unilateral decision in 2019, does not need a tango in 2023. It requires a unilateral decision in 2023. Therefore, it is unnecessary to talk about some mutual dancing.
If there is a unilateral decision, it is up to them to decide what they will do unilaterally. We are the only ones to state the position - that this would be welcome to lift the unilateral sanctions from their side, based on the interests of our compatriots. This decision cannot be mutual”, said kobakhidze on the 3rd of February.
Regarding the State Department statement, Kobakhidze added that “if someone wants to punish the company, it's their business”.
The resumption of flights with Russia is unacceptable for President Salome Zurabishvili, who does not share the Georgian Dream’s argument, as if it would serve to alleviate the problems of Georgians living in Russia.
