“The Georgian authorities and Georgian embassies are doing everything in their power to remain in constant contact with our citizens. We absolutely cannot accept any criticism to the effect that Georgian citizens are being selected on any grounds whatsoever,” Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili declared.

The Minister stressed that Georgia is making every possible effort to assist its citizens.

“Any Georgian citizen has the opportunity to contact Georgian embassies and register their wish to return home. There is one important factor we must bear in mind here. In the countries where Georgian citizens are currently staying, such as the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, airspace is closed and flights cannot operate. Both states are showing considerable care towards citizens of third countries stranded within their borders, doing everything possible to ensure their well-being and, in a sense, covering the costs of their stay. This is, of course, a very significant step on the part of those states, and we can only express our gratitude.

However, some citizens wish to return home promptly, and that possibility does not currently exist; no airline has offered any commercial flights of any kind. For this reason, the Georgian government has decided to offer our citizens the opportunity to return to Georgia entirely free of charge,” Botchorishvili said.

The Minister added that a further flight is planned for today to bring Georgian citizens home.

“This morning, one flight from Oman has already been completed, and Georgian citizens returned to Georgia from Muscat. A further special flight is also planned for today, this time operating from Saudi Arabia. We are endeavouring to bring our citizens home from the nearest possible locations, to spare them unnecessary discomfort in reaching airports and to avoid additional difficulties during their transit. The Georgian authorities and Georgian embassies are doing everything in their power to remain in constant contact with Georgian citizens, and we absolutely cannot accept any criticism to the effect that citizens are being selected on any grounds whatsoever. That is an outright falsehood, and it will be confirmed by any Georgian citizen who has been in telephone or email contact with Georgian embassies,” the Minister said.