Opposition MPs call on the government to revoke its consent to bilateral flights with Russia

Opposition MPs call on the government to revoke its consent to bilateral flights with Russia. Teona Akubardia, Ana Natsvlishvili, Khatuna Samnidze, Ana Buchukuri and Khatia Dekanoidze held a joint press conference in the Parliament regarding the mentioned issue.

As Teona Akubardia said, the Georgian government is accepting a gift from the Kremlin and thereby alienating Georgia from its European future, threatening its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"At the same time, the government is intensifying its anti-Western rhetoric and yesterday's statements by the leader of Georgian Dream are nothing more than an attempt to further isolate Georgia from the West and thereby strengthen Russian influence. We women MPs condemn the government's decision regarding the flights and consider it a threat to sovereignty and territorial integrity," Akubardia said.

Ana Natsvlishvili also talks about the threat created in the direction of European integration and states that with this decision, the government is putting Georgia's security and European integration under a huge blow.

"We call on the Georgian government to revoke its consent to direct flights. Although the introduction of the visa-free regime is a unilateral decision of Russia, the restoration of direct flights is a bilateral decision and it should not have the consent of the Georgian government. It is impossible for the country to aspire to Europe on the one hand, for which it has made an official application, and on the other hand take steps to return to Russia's orbit. Therefore, this decision should be revoked. Otherwise, working and creating the illusion that the 12 points are being fulfilled will be a farce," said Natsvilishvili.

Khatuna Samnidze talks about the sabotage of the EU candidate status on the part of Georgia­n Dream and states that peace and security are related to European integration, which is under threat.

"This decision is a sabotage of our European status. All surveys show, and Georgia­n Dream is well aware that peace and prosperity are connected to our European future, security and stability are connected to the European future, in such a situation, deepening relations with Russia and direct flights are sabotage of the European future. Putin's decision is not related to the well-being of our population, the goal is to strengthen Russian influence in the country, and when such a policy is welcomed by the government, it creates a proof that it is the extension of the Russian government in this country and all its rhetoric is Kremlinist," said Samnidze.