Tbilisi undecided over Belavia as US sanctions airline

Tbilisi has not decided so far whether to cancel the flights of Belarus Belavia airline, following the US move to impose sanctions on it earlier this week. 

The airline is currently conducting flights from all three airports of Georgia – from Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi – with the National Aviation agency claiming to “study” the specific topic with other state agencies. 

It added, as part of earlier sanctions imposed by the manufacturer, the airline’s operation in Georgia had been restricted with Boeing type airplanes since June of this year, and flight had been conducted with Embraer-type aircrafts alone. 

Sanctions against Minsk have been tightened in connection with the anniversary of the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus, with the US refusing to recognise its results. 

The restrictions initially imposed on Belarus figures and companies were further tightened following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, with Belarussian President backing the aggression.