UNM opposition announces rally at parliament against direct flights with Russia

The United National Movement opposition party on Friday announced it would hold a rally at the country’s parliament building at 7 p.m. in protest of resumption of direct Russia-Georgia flights earlier that day. 

 

The briefing came following the arrests of demonstrators at Tbilisi airport for disobeying police orders following the landing of the Russia-based Azimuth airline jer, boarding Russian nationals and the members of the Georgian pro-Russian groups. 

 

Calling the Georgian government “pro-Russian”, the UNM said the Georgian public should not tolerate its “pro-Kremlin” moves and “dragging the country back to Russia”. 

 

Russian president Vladimir Putin on May10 signed a decree on lifting travel and visa restrictions with Georgia, amid Moscow’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine. 

 

The international community has expressed its concerns over Tbilisi’s accepting the flights and warned the country of possible sanctions if sanctioned aircraft entered its territory. 

 

Kelly Degnan, the US ambassador to Georgia, also said it was a “trap” that could hamper Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration. 

 

In response, prime minister Irakli Garibashvili welcomed lifting of banს, pointing to “benefits” to the country’s citizens living in Russia, adding Tbilisi could not follow Europe’s “strict approach” to Russia due to the absence of any foreign security umbrella and the presence of Russian troops on its territory. 

 

He also said imposing sanctions on Russia would affect the country’s economy. 

 

The Georgian Dream government in 2013 restored trade and economic relations with Russia, while diplomatic relations remain suspended following Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008.