After a four-year break: the first plane from Russia arrived in Georgia after the resumption of air traffic

On Friday, May 19, the first direct flight arrived from Moscow's Vnukovo airport to Tbilisi after an almost four-year break in air traffic between Russia and Georgia.

As reported by RIA Novosti, the plane of Azimuth Airlines took off without delay. There were 86 passengers on board, 14 seats remained free, the flight went normally.

At the same time, opposition protests were held in Tbilisi against the resumption of direct flights between the countries. Against this background, security measures were strengthened at the airport of the Georgian capital, protesters were not allowed to enter the arrival terminal. At some point, the opposition tried to break through the police cordon.

• The opposition tried to break through the cordon at Tbilisi airport after the arrival of the plane from Moscow

In addition, according to Sputnik Georgia, some protesters insulted the police and threw eggs at them, after which law enforcement officers began to detain them. According to preliminary data, at least six people were detained.

In the late afternoon, protesters gathered in the center of Tbilisi near the country's parliament building.

Resumption of flights between Russia and Georgia

Azimut received permission from the Georgian aviation authorities for flights on the Moscow-Tbilisi route with a frequency of seven flights a week on May 15. In addition, the Georgian authorities allowed the flights of another Russian company - Red Wings. It is expected that from June, the aircraft of this carrier will begin to fly on the Sochi-Tbilisi and Moscow-Kutaisi routes.

In turn, the first flight from Tbilisi to Moscow is scheduled for May 20. Georgian Airways' Boeing 737 aircraft is scheduled to take off at 08:00 local time (07:00 Moscow time).

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On May 19, the Federal Air Transport Agency confirmed the issuance of permission for Georgian Airways to operate, "based on the principles of reciprocity and in the development of agreements between the aviation authorities of Russia and Georgia."

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Georgian Airways Group Tamaz Gaiashvili welcomed the decision of the Russian side regarding the abolition of visas and the resumption of air traffic.

"These long-awaited steps meet the aspirations of millions of people in Russia and Georgia, linked by centuries-old ties of history, economy and culture," Sputnik Georgia quoted him as saying.

Recall that from May 15, in accordance with the decree of President Vladimir Putin, the ban on Russian airlines to fly to Georgia, which had been in force since July 2019, was lifted. The head of state also abolished the visa regime for Georgian citizens, with the exception of persons entering the Russian Federation to work or for a period of more than 90 days for a temporary stay in Russia.

Earlier, EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano said that the association calls on Georgia to support sanctions against the Russian Federation in the field of aviation and not to let Russian planes into its territory.

Commenting on the criticism from the EU, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili noted that Georgia is not part of the European Union. "To obey the policy of the European Union, we must be members of the EU. Today we are not yet members of the European Union. It will take years," TASS quoted him as saying.

The prime minister also called the restoration of air traffic with the Russian Federation the right decision, stressing at the same time that airline planes that fell under Western sanctions will not fly to the republic.

"An example for those countries that do not have political thinking"

According to Sergei Tsekov, a member of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, building relations with Georgia is a normal example for the rest of the world community. According to the senator, despite the existing difficulties, Georgia understands very well in which issues it is necessary to show principle, and in which it is necessary to cooperate for the benefit of both states.

"This is an example for those countries that do not have enough political thinking, which do not have a sufficient depth of understanding of those interstate processes and issues that impose various sanctions against Russia without any miscalculations, and then suffer the most themselves," Tsekov said.

In his opinion, in the case of the resumption of air traffic, we are talking about a sensible decision that benefits both Georgia and Russia.

A similar point of view is shared by the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Artyom Turov. He called the restoration of relations with Georgia a very important process.

As the deputy said in an interview with RT, the launch of the first flights and the abolition of visas should serve as new opportunities for tourists, for ordinary citizens, and for entrepreneurial activity.

"Despite the external pressure that exists on the issue of launching air traffic, Tbilisi is also doing everything possible to improve relations," the parliamentarian said.