MP Samkharadze says Russia tries to damage Georgia's European integration path by lifting flight ban 
MP Samkharadze says Russia tries to damage Georgia's European integration path by lifting flight ban 

Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chairman of the Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee, has remarked on Russia’s recent move to lift the ban on direct flights to Georgia. He believes this very move aims to “damage Georgia’s European integration path.”

Samkharadze urged the Georgian society and European partners “to pay attention to the time and moment” Russia opted for a visa waiver.

“With this step, Russia is attempting to harm Georgia’s European integration path by projecting the image that Georgia is closely cooperating with Russia. As a result, both our society and our European allies should fully comprehend why this action was made now, after 20 years.

This is Russia’s decision, in which we did not intervene; it was not our request nor our wish; yet, at a time when extremely significant issues for Georgia are being discussed and Georgia has to take a fresh step towards European integration, the Russian authorities chose, for whatever reason, to alter its policy of 20 years and scrap the visa regime,” he noted.

According to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decree, from May 15, 2023, Georgian citizens will be able to enter and leave Russia without a visa for up to 90 days on the basis of valid identity documents.

Moscow cut off the direct air links between Russia and Georgia in 2019, following the anti-Russian protests in Tbilisi.