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Georgian Airlines now plans to fly to Moscow twice a day through neighboring Armenia. VANO SHLAMOV / AFP

Air links between Russia and Georgia are suspended from Monday. This interruption was decided by Moscow following the protest movement that arose in the Georgian capital last month. Demonstrations that incriminated Russia's influence in domestic politics and which the Kremlin called a " Russophobic provocation ". Eight airlines provided direct links between the two countries - six Russian and two Georgian. The economic consequences could be significant for Georgia, which in recent years has welcomed a growing number of Russian tourists.

With our correspondent in Moscow, Étienne Bouche

In the middle of the tourist season, Moscow hit hard and wanted to signify its irritation. In Russia, tourist agencies have been ordered not to offer trips to Georgia to their customers. And Russian citizens who would still like to go there will now have to make a stopover.

This decision to suspend direct flights between the two countries would represent a loss of 42 million euros for Russian airlines. An assessment made by the Minister of Transport, Yevgeny Ditrikh, who Sunday ensured the possibility of paying companies financial compensation.

For its part, the company Georgian Airlines intends to adapt and plans to serve Moscow twice a day through neighboring Armenia.

The deterioration of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Tbilisi is therefore taking concrete shape. In this renewed tension, Moscow may be tempted to step up its coercive measures: the consumer protection agency recently sent a signal by announcing the tightening of controls over imports of Georgian wines.

A few days ago, Georgian jazz singer Nino Katamadze announced that she would no longer perform in Russia.

► See also: Events in Georgia: Kremlin denounces "Russophobic provocation"