Landing ban on Georgian aircraft in Russia | News Asia | '
After the mass protests with many injured in Georgia, Russia is taking consequences. On Friday, President Vladimir Putin had decided that for an indefinite period no Russian passenger planes would be allowed to fly to the former Soviet republic. Only a day later he moved to and announced flight bans from Georgia to Russia.
For the Georgian tourism a bad news, because the country is very popular with Russian tourists. A suspension of flights would therefore hit mainly the economy in the western-oriented country. According to Georgian statistics, more than 113,000 tourists arrived from Russia in May, 26 percent more than in the same month last year. Six Russian airlines fly to Georgia. Direct flights have only been available since 2014.
The background of the recent conflict was the visit of a Russian delegation to parliament in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, which led to protests. More than 200 people were injured. 52 of them according to Georgian media reports are still in hospitals. More than 300 demonstrators were arrested. Thousands of people had tried to storm Parliament. Security forces prevented her from doing so. Another big demonstration on Friday night remained largely peaceful.
Warning about further violence
After the riots, President Salome Zurabishvili warned against further violence. She said she was prepared to work with all political forces to reach a public agreement, she said in a statement distributed by the presidential office. Political polarization "in the country must be reduced, and it is easy to guess who has an interest in Georgia's tensions and destabilization," she said, without directly mentioning Russia differently than in earlier statements.
Many Georgians are worried that Moscow may have more influence in Georgia. The relationship between the two countries is extremely tense. There are no diplomatic relations anymore. In 2008 Russia and Georgia held a short war against each other.
hf / kle (dpa, afp)
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