After the mass protests with many injured people in Georgia, Georgian airlines are no longer allowed to fly to Russia. This is true from 8 July, according to the Ministry of Transport announced yesterday in Moscow, the agency Interfax.
It was necessary to „ensure a sufficient level of flight safety“. The day before, President Vladimir Putin had decided that for an indefinite period no Russian passenger aircraft would be allowed to fly to the former Soviet republic.
Popular holiday destination for Russians
Georgia is popular with Russian tourists. A suspension of flights would hit primarily the economy in the western-oriented country. In May, according to Georgian statistics, 113,138 tourists arrived from Russia, 26 percent more than in the same month last year. Six Russian airlines fly to Georgia. Direct flights have only been available since 2014.
After visiting a Russian delegation in the Parliament of Georgia, thousands of demonstrators tried to storm Parliament during the night on Friday. The security forces prevented her from doing so. More than 200 people were injured. Moscow then complained of hostility to Russia in the South Caucasus Republic. Relations between the two countries are highly strained.
Less popular during protests
Meanwhile, hundreds of people gathered in front of parliament in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi again yesterday – much less than in the two days before. Live images on television showed how the protesters at first peacefully demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia in front of the parliament.
He should assume political responsibility for the police operation in the night on Friday, they demanded. More than 200 people were injured in the protests. 52 of them according to media reports were still in hospitals. More than 300 demonstrators were arrested. Thousands of people had tried to storm Parliament. The police stopped her and used tear gas and water cannons.
The trigger was the presence of a Russian delegation at a forum in the Georgian parliament. Here, a Duma deputy held a speech from the place of the Speaker of Parliament. Many in the country are worried that Moscow may have more influence in Georgia.
