The Russian company Aero Management,formerly known as JSC Dart, has demanded the de facto authorities of Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia pay over 24 million rubles ($2.8 million).
The demand was made in a letter from the company’s General Director, Philip Mizonov, which was published by the Telegram channel RESPUBLICA this week. The letter was addressed to Kristina Ozgani, the so-called Minister of Energy of occupied Abkhazia, and B.K. Jenny, the General Director of Sokhumi Airport.
The letter said Aero Management had signed several contracts in 2022 related to the reconstruction of Sokhumi Airport. The company claimed it had fulfilled its obligations, including providing a 120 million ruble loan for the development of design and accounting documentation for the project. However, the company claimed it had not yet received repayment for the loan or associated commissions.
The letter also alleged the de facto Ministry of Energy of Abkhazia had effectively excluded Aero Management from participating in the airport’s reconstruction by involving another investor in the project.
The company said it had requested a meeting with the de facto government of Abkhazia to discuss debt repayment and other related matters. So far, the de facto authorities have not responded to the company’s demands.
Aero Management was established in 2021 with an authorized capital of 10,000 rubles and focuses on consulting in commercial activities and management. In December 2022, Dmitry Nemov, an adviser to the general director of Dart, commented on the legal preparations for the airport’s construction.
In the fall of 2023, it was revealed that the reconstruction of Sokhumi Airport would be undertaken by Infrastructure Development LLC, a company owned by Rashid Rashidovich Nurgaliev, the son of former Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliev, who is now the First Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of Russia. The Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia, Dmitry Volvach, announced that the project’s investment would exceed 12 billion rubles, with the first test flight from Russia to Sokhumi expected later this year.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) does not recognize Sokhumi Airport as an international airport, as it adheres to Georgia’s territorial integrity. The reopening of Sokhumi Airport without Georgia’s consent would violate international norms. Since 2006, ICAO has revoked the airport code and removed it from official documentation.
