NGOs: Russian Plane Does Not Land in EU
“The permission given by the Georgian authorities for flights between Tbilisi and Moscow is a direct sabotage of the country’s status as a candidate for EU membership,” say more than a hundred non-governmental organizations, adding that “Russian plane does not land in EU.”
In a joint statement released on May 18, CSOs note that “the European Union has clearly stated that it and its partners do not allow flights to or from Russia, and this decision by the Georgian government raises concerns about Georgia’s commitment to comply with EU foreign policy resolutions, as provided for in the Association Agreement.”
- 10/05/2023 – Russia Abolishes Visa Regime and Lifts Ban on Airline Flights with Georgia Starting May 15
According to them, the government continues to change its foreign policy against the will of 89% of the Georgian people and the Georgian Constitution*. “Before the decision on the status of the candidate for EU membership is made, this kind of demarche ignores the foreign policy course chosen by the Georgian people, which has already brought us visa-free travel and direct flights to the EU, not to Russia.”
According to the NGOs, ” the Georgian population is already suffering from the existing foreign policy of the Government, one of the results of which is the increase in Russian immigration to Georgia”. “The sharp rise in prices and inflation are additional costs caused by this policy that we Georgian citizens have to pay”.
They therefore call on the authorities “to stop sabotaging the status of the candidate country and to immediately reject the decision to start direct flights with Russia, which is detrimental to Georgia’s interests”.
Constitution of Georgia*, Article 78: Integration into European and Euro-Atlantic Structures – “The constitutional bodies shall take all measures within the scope of their competences to ensure the full integration of Georgia into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization”.
Also Read:
- 11/05/2023 – “This is Positive and Welcome”-PM on Restoration of Visa-Free Travel and Flights to Russia
- 11/05/2023 – GD Chair Kobakhidze: We can’t and we won’t impose sanctions on Russia. Our position is clear.
- 10/05/2023 – Georgian FM Welcomes Moscow’s Decision to Abolish Visa Regime, Lift Ban on Air Flights
- 10/05/2023 – “Another Russian Provocation!” – President on Russia’s Abolition of Visa Regime to Georgia
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