Putin lifts ban on flights to Georgia and cancels visa regime for citizens of the country

The ban had been in place since 2019, as Russian airlines were temporarily banned from operating passenger flights from the territory of the Russian Federation to the territory of Georgia following the events known as Gavrilov's Night (mass protests against Russia's expansion into Georgia that began in 2019 near the building of the Georgian parliament in Tbilisi). 

Currently, a protest against the resumption of air traffic with Russia is taking place near the Georgia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

President of Georgia Salomé Zourabichvili called the decision a provocation by the Russian Federation and said that such actions are "unacceptable" as long as Russia continues its aggression against Ukraine and occupies the territory of Georgia.

She stressed that she considered the resumption of direct flights with Russia absolutely unacceptable. 

Instead, the country's Deputy Economy Minister, Mariam Kvrivishvili, said that Russian airlines and aircraft would be able to operate direct flights to Georgia.