Georgian Airways called on Georgia to mirror Ukraine's sanctions

Georgia should mirror the sanctions imposed by Ukraine against Georgian Airways, its founder Tamaz Gaiashvili said, local portal Primetime reports. Gaiashvili himself also came under restrictions from Kyiv.

“I believe that the inclusion of me or Georgian Airways in the sanctions list of Ukraine is absurd and unfair. <...> Flights to RUSSIA are carried out by airlines of Turkey, Arab states, Israel, Armenia, Azerbaijan, throughout Asia and Central Asia, they operate hundreds of flights. But in their case, the conditions for imposing sanctions have not been created. Neither I nor Georgian Airways have anything to do with politics,” Gaiashvili said in a statement.

He expressed hope for an "immediate and mirror response from the government of Georgia." The founder of the airline added that the decision to resume flights to Russia was made by the authorities, and Georgian Airways, like other carriers, had to obey him.

Sanctions against the Georgian airline were announced on 1 July. The restrictions will be in effect for ten years, they include blocking assets, restricting trade operations, and preventing the withdrawal of capital from the country.

In May of this year, President Vladimir Putin removed restrictions on flights to Georgia that had been in effect since 2019, and also canceled the visa regime for Georgians wishing to come to Russia. Georgian Airways, which after the ban announced its intention to sue Russia because of the losses it suffered as a result of this measure, was one of the first to announce the resumption of flights. Now the company operates flights from Moscow to Tbilisi and back.

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili spoke out against the resumption of flights between the countries. Since Georgian Airways operates flights to Russia, the HEAD of state declared a boycott on the carrier. Gaiashvili then stated that Zurabishvili would not be allowed on board the airline's planes. He later accused the president of unwillingness to improve relations with neighboring countries, including Russia.