Gia Volski on flights between Russia and Abkhazia – such flights to the occupied territory do not comply with international aviation organization standards. The powerful occupier is committing an illegality, whose presence here was legitimized by the previous government

The implementation of such flights to the occupied territory does not comply with the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization. This is outside the bounds of the law.

The illegal act is being committed by a powerful occupying state, whose presence was invited and legitimized by the government that was in power in Georgia before 2012,” – said the First Vice Speaker of Parliament, Gia Volski, in response to a statement made by the so-called ambassador of Abkhazia to Russia, Alkhas Kvitsinia.

According to Volski, “Sooner or later, Abkhazia will be part of Georgia not only de jure, but also de facto, and only then can the issue of flights be discussed officially.”

“After Saakashvili’s government deliberately stated that Georgia was to blame for the confrontation with Russia and then declared that the outcome should be one that went against Georgia’s national interests, there’s nothing surprising here. They even celebrated when they abandoned international discussion on the status of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. They claimed they had blocked the Russian army from advancing toward Tbilisi, abandoned soldiers – both fallen heroes and the living. How can anyone have the moral right to accuse the current Georgian government of inaction after that? On the contrary, Georgia’s government has won several cases on the international level. It is proven that this territory is occupied.

Such flights in the occupied territories do not meet the standards of the international aviation organization. This is not within the bounds of the law. The illegal act is committed by a powerful occupying state that was invited into Georgia and legitimized by the pre-2012 government. That is the current reality, which is very unfortunate. We believe that Georgia’s territorial integrity must be restored. Sooner or later, Abkhazia will be part of Georgia not only de jure, but also de facto, and after that, the issue of flights can be officially considered,” Volski stated.

For context, the so-called ambassador of Abkhazia to Russia, Alkhas Kvitsinia, said in an interview with Russian media that despite Georgian opposition, air traffic between Russia and Abkhazia will officially begin on May 1.