EU urges Georgia to impose sanctions against the Russian aviation sector

The European Union calls on Georgia to comply with sanctions against the Russian aviation sector and asks not to let planes from Russia into its territory. This was announced at a briefing in Brussels by the official representative of the EU Foreign Service, Peter Stano.

“We do not allow flights from, to or through Russia. The EU calls on Georgia, which wants to become an EU candidate, to join these sanctions, including in the aviation field, and be attentive to circumventing existing sanctions,” he said (cit. according to RIA Novosti).

On May 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the resumption of air traffic with Georgia, which was terminated in the summer of 2019. In addition, on May 15, by a separate decree, he canceled the visa regime for Georgian citizens.

After that, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili named the decision of the Russian authorities is a provocation and unacceptable against the backdrop of the continuation of the military operation in Ukraine. She also urged to convene the Security Council and consider the introduction of three-month visas for Russians.

Later Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili informedthat Tbilisi does not plan to impose sanctions against Moscow, so as not to “aggravate relations” with Russia. At the same time, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of the Republic Mariam Kvrivishvili emphasizedthat the planes of those Russian airlines that are under sanctions will not be able to fly into Georgia.

May 1 Mayor of Tbilisi Kakha Kaladze toldthat Georgia did not receive the status of a candidate member of the European Union due to the fact that the country did not join the sanctions against Russia. Then the President of the European Council Charles Michel explained that Georgia can get the status of a candidate after “a number of conditions are met.” At the end of November, EU Ambassador to Georgia Pavel Gerchinsky said that the EU member states would decide on granting Georgia the status of a candidate member of the bloc by the end of 2023. He noted that the EU is monitoring the implementation of 12 recommendations that are necessary to obtain the status.