Abkhazia's So-called "Ambassador" in Russia – Despite Tbilisi's Protest, Planes Will Fly Between Russia and Abkhazia

Despite Georgia’s efforts to ban Russian airlines from flying to Sokhumi Airport, air travel between Russia and Abkhazia will begin as planned – said Alkhaz Kvitsinia, Abkhazia’s so-called “ambassador” to Russia, in an interview with Russian media.

“We view Georgia’s actions as an attempt to interfere in an objectively inevitable process. Abkhazia and Russia have already agreed on air travel, and it will begin according to schedule. We call on Tbilisi to abandon confrontational rhetoric and sign an agreement with us on the non-use of force. In any case, planes will fly, and despite Tbilisi’s protest, residents of Abkhazia and Russia will be able to travel freely between each other,” Kvitsinia stated.

According to him, Georgia’s Civil Aviation Agency appealed to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to ban Russian airlines from operating flights to Sokhumi.

“From Georgia’s perspective, Sokhumi Airport is operating illegally and violates the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, since the airport lacks certification from Tbilisi,” said the so-called ambassador.

He added that attempts to use ICAO to isolate the republic are considered futile by the Abkhaz side.

“Yes, formally Georgia enjoys majority support in ICAO, and our airport’s code has been revoked there since 2006. However, it is important to understand that the planned Moscow–Sokhumi flights pose no threat to anyone’s safety,” Kvitsinia stated.

According to him, the official start date for air travel between Russia and Abkhazia is May 1.