Aircraft and airlines sanctioned for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are not operating in Georgia. Such a statement made today the Minister of Economy, while rejecting a TV report that claimed correspondence between the domestic authorities and the Russian state airline Red Wings.

Levan Davitashvili called the alleged letter shown in the report a “fake”.

“This report was irresponsible, not based on verified facts and represented a violation of journalistic ethics. It was a deliberate slander, a feeble attempt to strain the situation and mislead the public… Russian company had only obtained permission from its own administration to fly to Georgia.

However, if they have not contacted us, it does not mean they will launch flights here, does it? Additionally, specific details such as dates and destinations need to be agreed upon with the [Georgian] Civil Aviation Agency before any flights can take place, which has not happened.

The aircraft used by Red Wings in other cases in operations in Georgia is in compliance with the requirements of the international sanctions imposed on Russia”, - said the Minister.

He also said criteria of granting permission to operate flights in Georgia were “very clear” and the Civil Aviation Agency was “not agreeing such issues” with the Ministry: “All companies are having relations with the Agency in accordance with international principles, the body is making its own decisions without the intervention of the Ministry, politicising the issue is certainly irresponsible”.