Georgia condemns flights between Russia and Abkhazia

The authorities of Georgia have condemned the launch of regular flights between Russia and Abkhazia. The Georgian authorities treat the above as a violation of the Georgia’s territorial integrity.

On May 1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Georgia expressed its “concern over the Russia’s illegal use of the Sukhumi airport and the launch of air flights in the occupied region of Abkhazia,” the “InterPressNews” publication reports with reference to the Georgian MFA’s press service.

Gross violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity

Russian airlines flights, as well as the agreement on the operation of the Sukhumi airport, “represent a gross violation of the Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Georgia’s law on occupied territories, fundamental principles and norms of international law, including the UN Charter and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Convention, of which both Georgia and the Russian Federation are members,” the Georgian MFA states.

“Also of concern is the railway communication from Russia to occupied Abkhazia launched on May 1 of this year. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia continues to use the relevant international mechanisms and calls on the international community to give a proper assessment and respond in an appropriate way to the Russia’s actions aimed at undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia,” the “InterPressNews” quotes the Georgian MFA’s press service as stating.

The Sukhumi airport has been banned from accepting passenger flights since the end of the Georgian-Abkhaz war in 1993. On June 17, 2023, it became known that Russia and Abkhazia signed the agreement on the reconstruction of the airport by the end of 2024 at the expense of a private Russian investor.

Russian airlines that organize flights to the Sukhumi airport will not be able to operate in Georgia, since the Georgian laws prohibit foreign companies from engaging in commercial activities in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region (the Georgian name for South Ossetia, – note of the “Caucasian Knot”) without the official Tbilisi’s consent, states Levan Davitashvili, Georgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development.

Companies that violate the law, of course, will not be able to operate in Georgia

“Companies that violate the law, of course, will not be able to operate in Georgia. Based on the above, we will use all the tools at our disposal,” the “Georgia Online” portal quoted on May 1 Georgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili as stating.

The authorities of Georgia must come to terms with the fact that the Sukhumi airport will accept passenger flights, notes Raul Lolua, Secretary of the Security Council of Abkhazia. “Georgia, referring to the norms of international law, declared our airport illegal, but the norms of law must work for the people and in the people’s interests. The issue of people’s movement and their convenience are the main idea, and we are implementing this right together with Russia and with the help of Russia. And Georgia must come to terms with that,” stated Secretary of the Security Council of Abkhazia as quoted by the “Apsnypress” on May 1.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 2, 2025 at 10:03 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.