Russia Restricts Georgian Airways Flights as Response Measure

The Russian Transport Ministry confirmed the information on flights being restricted from Tbilisi to Moscow for the Georgian airline, according to official statement.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Russian Transport Ministry on Saturday confirmed to Sputnik its new restrictions on flights of the Georgian Airways flag carrier after Tbilisi failed to give a green light for Russia's Ural Airlines to fly to Georgia from the Zhukovsky airport near Moscow.

“The Transport Ministry confirms the information on flights being restricted from Tbilisi to Moscow for the Georgian airline. The restriction is a retaliatory measure,” the ministry said.

Georgian Airways Deputy CEO Robert Oganesian told Govorit Moskva radio that the company would suffer big losses over the Russian ministry’s decision. He added that the flights would be canceled until the end of October.

In May, Georgia refused to authorize four flights of the Ural Airlines from the Zhukovsky airport, prompting criticism of Moscow, which insists on the resumption of the flights.