Russia-Georgia flights contradict Tbilisi’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations – Lithuanian MFA

The Lithuanian foreign office on Friday responded to resumed Russia-Georgia direct flights, saying accepting the flights by Tbilisi after the Kremlin’s move last week to lift travel and visa restrictions with Georgia contradicted Tbilisi’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. 

 

“We note with disappointment that the resumption of the Russia-Georgia flights goes against the interests of Georgia and its chosen EU and Euro-Atlantic integration path. We once again call on Georgia to align with the EU sanctions against Russia and also in the aviation sector”, said the Lithuanian foreign ministry. 

 

Russian president Vladimir Putin resumed direct flights with Georgia that he canceled in 2019 in response to anti-Kremlin protests in Tbilisi on May 10, also lifting the travel ban Moscow maintained since 2000, on the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and occupation of 20 percent of Georgian territories. 

 

The Russian Azimuth airline conducted its first Moscow-Tbilisi flight early on Friday, with police arresting 6 protesting the resumption of flights in Tbilisi airport. 

 

A large rally has been scheduled in central Tbilisi at 7 p.m. today by the domestic opposition to force the government ban the Russian aircraft from entering the country’s territory, urging the public to join them.