Georgia’s decision to resume flights from Russian Federation raises doubts about its European path, - Stano
The decision of the Georgian government to resume air traffic with Russia after President Putin’s decree to lift the ban on such flights contradicts the policy of EU sanctions against the aggressor country and raises doubts about Georgia’s further advancement to the EU.
EU spokesman Peter Stano stated this today in Brussels during a briefing, Censor.NET informs with reference to Ukrinform.
"We regret Georgia's decision to resume flights to and from Russia following Russia's decision to lift the ban on flights last week. Due to Russia's criminal war of aggression against Ukraine, the European Union and a number of other countries have imposed sanctions against the Russian aviation sector. We and our partners we do not allow flights from and over Russia. So this is very important to remember," Stano emphasized.
He noted that this decision of the Georgian authorities raises concerns about Georgia's path to the EU, and also contradicts Georgia's obligations to join EU decisions in the field of foreign policy, as stipulated in the EU-Georgia Association Agreement.
The EU spokesman recalled the warning from the World Civil Aviation Organization of the United Nations, which expressed concern about the safety of Russian aircraft and the Russian aviation sector as a whole, which was brought to the attention of the Georgian authorities.
Earlier, the head of the Georgian government, Iraklii Garibashvili, welcomed the restoration of the visa-free regime and air connections with the Russian Federation and said that Georgia cannot "get involved" in the war in Ukraine.
It will be recalled that on May 10, Russian President Putin issued a decree canceling the visa regime for citizens of Georgia. He also lifted the ban on Russian airlines flying to Georgia. Zurabishvili called it a "provocation" and proposed to "introduce three-month visas" for Russians. The head of the ruling party of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, said that his country will not introduce direct sanctions against the Russian Federation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called Georgia's course, 20% of the territory occupied by the Russian Federation, "a deal with the devil."
