The conditions for the resumption of air links with Georgia were determined when a decision was made to suspend it, said Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
“When the relevant decisions were made, they were justified, and the framework was also outlined, both for their adoption and for their possible cancellation. We must assume that the relevant comments were given at the time of making decisions and launching their actions,” Zakharova said. briefing on Thursday.
"Everything there is clearly described why they were introduced, and what the conditions should be for their revision or cancellation. Therefore, in this case I was surprised that the repetition of those theses that were already announced at the official level caused such a stir," she added.
The Kommersant newspaper, citing sources in the Kremlin, previously reported that air traffic could be restored, but on condition that Tbilisi could guarantee the safety of the Russians, and the situation in the Republic stabilizes.
Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the day before that it was premature to talk about the resumption of flights of Russian flights to Georgia as long as there are threats to Russian citizens in this country.
"Of course, we cannot exclude the resumption of flights. And, of course, we hope that sooner or later this will happen. But for now, of course, given such strong polarization, and with extremist undertones, the polarization of Georgian society and anti-Russian Russophobic manifestations, there is an objective danger finding a large number of Russian tourists in Georgia ", - Peskov told reporters.
According to him, the restriction on flights is "an absolutely necessary measure." He has stressed that the situation in Georgia "will be constantly monitored" for normalization of the situation and the disappearance of at least "the slightest threat to Russian tourists arising from Russophobic manifestations."
“Then there will be time to analyze and make some other decisions, while it’s too early to talk about it,” said Peskov.
On June 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree temporarily banning Russian airlines from July 8 to transport Russians from the territory of the Russian Federation to Georgia. Tour operators and travel agents are advised to refrain from selling a tourist product that provides transportation of citizens to Georgia.
Previously, regular flights between the Russian Federation and Georgia were interrupted in August 2008 in connection with the attack of Georgia on South Ossetia. Flights were resumed in August 2010. At the same time, prior to the resumption of regular communications in September 2014, Russia and Georgia were tied up by charter flights.
