Air Traffic to Resume after Georgia Pays Debt

Direct air traffic between Russia and Georgia will be resumed after the latter repays a debt for navigation services provided to Georgian air carriers, the Russian Ministry of Transport said in a statement released a few hours before a meeting between the Russian and Georgian presidents on February 21.

Vakhtang Lezhava, the Georgian deputy economy minister, held talks on the issue in Moscow on February 19-20. The Russian Transport Ministry said that a protocol had been signed following the talks. Georgia has undertaken to repay the outstanding debt. The statement does not specify the amount. Previously, however, Russia said it was 3.5 million rubles (about USD 142,000).

“During the negotiations the Georgian side was informed that the settlement of of an outstanding debt owed by Georgian air companies for air navigation services in the air space of the Russian Federation would serve as a basis for the resumption of direct air traffic between Russia and Georgia,” the Russian Transport Ministry said. It added that the talks had been “constructive.”