Tbilisi says no Western pressure to impose sanctions on Moscow

Western partners in the negotiations do not require Georgia to impose sanctions against Russia, as well as a ban on direct flights, said Chairman of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili said on June 14 in an interview with the local Imedi TV channel.

“When we talk to our Western partners and explain the situation to them, everyone has an understanding in connection with these issues. Nobody urges us to impose sanctions against Russia and, accordingly, to ban flights,” Papuashvili said.

On February 25, 2022, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced that he did not plan to impose sanctions against Russia, explaining this by national interests.

In early March 2022, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy recalled the ambassador from Tbilisi “for the immoral position” of the Georgian authorities on this issue.

The first direct flight from Russia landed in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi on May 19 four years after Moscow banned air travel with the South Caucasus nation. It carried around 70 people aboard the Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet 100.

The flight was met with protests against Georgia’s perceived return to the Russian sphere of influence amid its war in Ukraine.

Footage shared by the exiled Russian broadcaster Dozhd showed protesters carrying Georgian and Ukrainian flags, as well as signs condemning “occupant” and “terrorist” Russia.

Tbilisi-based journalists reported detentions at the protest site.

The southern Russia-based Azimut Airline flight landed in Tbilisi less than 10 days after Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted a flight ban and visa regime with Georgia.

Moscow banned air travel with Georgia in 2019 following anti-Russian rallies in Tbilisi.