Russian RTVI on Thursday said the Tbilisi-based Georgian Airways would perform transit flights from Tbilisi to Europe for Russian citizens. 

The media cited Tamaz Gaiashvili, the company founder as saying, the charter flights had been scheduled to Milan, Paris, Vienna, Larnaca and Thessaloniki.

"We will start from June 15. Let's see how this [process] will go. But we think there will be enough demand for these routes. From Tbilisi it will be more comfortable and faster than from other destinations […] We will maintain air communication with Russia. The Government of Georgia warmly welcomed this decision”, Gaiashvili told RTVI.

Russia on May 10 announced it lifted travel and visa restrictions with Tbilisi on the backdrop of its ongoing aggression against Ukraine. 

The decree entered into force on May 15, with Tbilisi accepting the resumption of flights considering the “humanitarian benefits for Georgian citizens living in Russia”. 

The landing of the Russian Azimuth airline in Tbilisi following the resumption of direct flights caused protests in Georgia last week, with dozens detained for disobeying police orders. 

Georgian president Salome Zourabichvili has boycotted the Georgian Airways for conducting flights to and from Russia.