The government of Georgia reckons that the Ukrainian government's decision to sanction Georgian Airways and its founder, Tamaz Gaiashvili, is a politically motivated and unfriendly decision. This was stated by the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Levan Davitashvili, at a briefing held in the government administration today.
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“It must be said unequivocally that this was a politically driven decision. We see that many airlines from different countries fly to Russia, and there hasn't been a similar reaction or decision from the Ukrainian authorities.
Unfortunately, we are seeing another unfriendly decision from the Ukrainian authorities. We had such cases in the past when the Ukrainian government sanctioned several Georgian citizens. It is absolutely unacceptable, and does not fit the relationship standard that Georgia and Ukraine have,” said Davitashvili.
The Minister of Economy thinks that the Georgian opposition also played a hand in the imposition of sanctions against Georgian Airways and Tamaz Gaiashvili – “It was probably the basis for this decision, incorrect information was provided, which resulted in decisions that only damage the relationship between two countries,” said Davitashvili.
The temporary representative of Ukrainian affairs was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia for an explanation regarding the decision of the Ukrainian government. As the ministry announced, “concern was expressed at the meeting over the said decision, which, according to the assessment of the Georgian side, is baseless.” The Georgian ambassador in Kyiv also expressed concern.
The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine made a decision on the expansion of the list of sanctioned persons on July 1, which was officialized by President Volodymyr Zelensky by issuing a relevant order. A total of 190 individuals and 290 companies were sanctioned due to their connection with Russia and the war against Ukraine, including Tamaz Gaiashvili and Georgian Airways. Gaiashvili called the decision absurd and expressed hope that “this unjust and groundless decision will be followed by an immediate and mirror response from the Georgian government.”
Georgian Airways started performing regular flights between Moscow and Tbilisi on May 20, after the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin's May 10 cancellation of a ban on direct flights with Georgia, imposed four years earlier. Additionally, Putin withdrew visa requirements for Georgian citizens that have been in effect for 23 years.
The President of Georgia announced a boycott of Georgian Airways for the resumption of flights to Russia. According to Salome Zourabichvili, this is an airline that “always takes advantage of the state to get rich” during every government.
