The European Union reminded Georgia of the consequences of circumventing sanctions against Russia

The European Union calls on Georgia to join the sanctions against Russia in the aviation sector, said Peter Stano, representative of the European Union’s foreign policy service. In his answer At the request of the Netgazeti portal, he recalled that the EU sanctions regime provides for the possibility of introducing restrictions against those who support their circumvention.

Stano was asked to comment on the possibility of resuming direct flights between Russia and Georgia, which Moscow had previously expressed hope for. According to him, the EU is aware of such discussions and calls on Tbilisi to join the sanctions.

“The European Union calls on Georgia to join the sanctions imposed by the European Union and other countries against Russia in the aviation sector, and to remain vigilant against any possible attempts to circumvent the sanctions. The EU sanctions regime is considering imposing sanctions against those who support a possible circumvention of EU sanctions against Russia,” Stano said.

He also emphasized that due to the imposed sanctions, it is difficult for Russia to update its fleet of aircraft, and pointed out the danger of flying. According to Stano, Georgia should not allow “dangerous Russian aircraft” to enter its territory. “Due to EU sanctions, 95% of the Russian fleet can no longer upgrade their aircraft, which is necessary to comply with international technical and safety standards,” said an EU foreign policy official.

At the same time, the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation Vitaly Savelyev said earlier that Russia has all the necessary spare parts for the used aircraft. In addition, according to the head of the Federal Air Transport Agency Alexander Neradko, Russian airlines will be able to use Western aircraft, subject to work to maintain their airworthiness until 2030.

In December 2022, the director of the fourth department of the CIS countries of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Denis Gonchar, allowed the resumption of direct communication with Georgia and visa liberalization in relation to its citizens if “the necessary prerequisites for this” are formed, which, according to him, are well known to Tbilisi.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in January hopedthat direct flights between the Russian Federation and Georgia will soon be resumed. He emphasized that Georgia, like many other countries, is under pressure from the West, which demands to join the sanctions against Russia, but the ability of Tbilisi to resist this pressure, taking care of its own interests, is respected.

After that, Irakli Kobakhidze, chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party, said that the resumption of flights with Russia in Tbilisi would be welcomed, since such a step would ease the situation for citizens.

At the same time, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili opposed the restoration of air links with Russia. “I do not welcome the restoration of air communication with Russia! At a time when all partner countries, in word or deed, express maximum solidarity with the selfless struggle of Ukraine, for me and, I am sure, for the majority of society, the position of the government and the ruling party is, to put it mildly, incomprehensible,” the head of state’s administration posted on the website. statement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree banning Russian airlines from flying to Georgia in June 2019. The ban also applies to Georgian carriers. The reason was the rallies near the building of the Georgian parliament in Tbilisi, which began after State Duma deputy Sergei Gavrilov took the chair of the speaker of parliament during the International Assembly of Orthodoxy.