We have conveyed to [the Vice Prime Minister] that we regret the Georgian Government’s decision to agree to direct flights to Russia. Such a statement made the Ambassador of the European Union after the meeting with the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economy, to whom he handed demarche.

“We had a very open and honest conversation with the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economy Levan Davitashvili regarding direct flights between Russia and Georgia. I was assigned to convey the position of the European Union to the Georgian authorities. The EU position is agreed by the capitals of the 27 member states in Brussels. I was accompanied by all the Ambassadors of the EU member states represented in Tbilisi.

We have conveyed to [the Vice Prime Minister] that we regret the Georgian Government’s decision to agree to direct flights to Russia. We conveyed that this decision contradicts the unanimous decision of all 27 EU member states not to have direct flights to and from Russia and not to allow Russian aircraft to fly over the territory of EU member states.

We also expressed our concern that this decision runs counter to our determination to isolate Russia and pressure Russia to change its behavior when it comes to the brutal, aggressive war Russia is still waging in Ukraine.

It is true that it was a unilateral decision by Russia to resume flights with Georgia, but it also required an agreement with the Georgian government. That is why I have been assigned to convey a message agreed upon by the 27 member states that we regret the decision of the Georgian Government to agree to the resumption of direct flights between Russia and Georgia.

The Vice Prime Minister mentioned the arguments that we have already heard, that the Georgian Government ensures that neither sanctioned aircraft nor aircraft produced in the West are used, but unfortunately this lacks a larger political essence. I would like to remind you that the EU has collectively decided to ban all flights from and to Russia, all types, over the EU territory. And this is a very important step for all 27 member states and other partner countries to put pressure on Russia and change Russia’s behavior towards Ukraine.

Now, I have no information about any discussions regarding any sanctions against the Georgian Government to be imposed by the EU. Obviously, this development is not a positive thing from our point of view, but it is up to the 27 EU states to judge how and if this will affect Georgia’s aspirations to join the EU”, - said Pawel Herczynski