Tweet
RUSSIA SEVERS TRANSPORT LINKS WITH GEORGIA
By Diana Dundua
The Messenger, Georgia
Oct 4 2006
Following bans on agricultural products, wine, mineral water, and the
closure of the only legally working border checkpoint, Russia has
announced a total suspension of air, rail, road and maritime links
with Georgia.
The transport blockade began in the morning of October 3. Passengers
arriving at Tbilisi airport arrived to find that their journey was
to be cut short, as all flights to Russia had been cancelled.
"I came to the airport and I was told that I couldn't go to Moscow.
It goes to show that Russia is more interested in its soldiers than
in its citizens. The [Russian] government are stopping us getting
back to Russia," Russian citizen Darejan Kveladze told journalists
on October 3.
Many passengers took their now useless tickets to their respective
airline offices in search of a refund, but it soon became apparent
that only those who bought their tickets in Georgia were able to
return them.
National carrier Airzena optimistically stated that all flights are
merely "temporarily delayed", hoping that Russia will soon change
its mind and reopen air traffic.
"We hope that very soon Russian air space will be opened to Georgian
planes, but if air traffic is cancelled for a long time passengers
who wish to get their money back can return tickets. However, we are
going to find alternative routes for flights," the director general
of Airzena, Tamaz Gaiashvili, told journalists on Tuesday.
Georgia politicians and analysts have unanimously declared the
transport ban politically motivated, but some Russian officials have
been quick to deny this. Chief of the Russian air navigation service,
Alexander Naradko, claims Georgian airlines owe USD 3.6 million for
air traffic services, with some debts dating back to 2001.
The representatives of three Georgian companies operating
Tbilisi-Moscow, Georgian Airways, Georgian National Airlines and
TbilAviaMsheni, categorically deny the existence of a debt.
Reportedly, the Georgian Air Navigation Department and representatives
of Aeroflot (Russia's national carrier) have received official notices
about the ban from the Russian aviation authority.
Representatives of the Georgian air navigation department call the
putative reasons for banning flights absurd, and vow to take the
matter to the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Georgia is still open to Russian flights, however, and the many
flights from Russia to Armenia and beyond are still able to use
Georgian airspace. "Russian companies use Georgian airspace... We
are not making any obstacles for them, let them fly," said Giorgi
Karbelashvili, chief of the Air Navigation Department.
Georgian Railway ltd. received official notification of the rail link
closure from Russia on October 3. Russia claims the trains have been
cancelled due to lack of passengers. The direct Tbilisi-Moscow service,
which runs via Baku, has only been operational since May.
"Russia's reasons for stopping train services are baseless because
usually over 90 percent of tickets are sold for the Tbilisi-Moscow
trip. At present 30 percent of passengers have already returned the
tickets as they cannot go to Russia," deputy director general of
Georgian Railway ltd., Irakli Kandelaki, said on Tuesday.
Batumi, from which three ferries a week usually sail to the Russian
Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, has also been taken by surprise.
About 50 passengers have returned their tickets so far.
Boris Gryzlov, Speaker of the Russian State Duma, was happy to allude
to the political nature of these latest restrictions.
"The sanctions imposed by the executive authorities are directed
against Saakashvili's regime, and not against the Georgian people,"
reassured Gryzlov.
By Diana Dundua
The Messenger, Georgia
Oct 4 2006
Following bans on agricultural products, wine, mineral water, and the
closure of the only legally working border checkpoint, Russia has
announced a total suspension of air, rail, road and maritime links
with Georgia.
The transport blockade began in the morning of October 3. Passengers
arriving at Tbilisi airport arrived to find that their journey was
to be cut short, as all flights to Russia had been cancelled.
"I came to the airport and I was told that I couldn't go to Moscow.
It goes to show that Russia is more interested in its soldiers than
in its citizens. The [Russian] government are stopping us getting
back to Russia," Russian citizen Darejan Kveladze told journalists
on October 3.
Many passengers took their now useless tickets to their respective
airline offices in search of a refund, but it soon became apparent
that only those who bought their tickets in Georgia were able to
return them.
National carrier Airzena optimistically stated that all flights are
merely "temporarily delayed", hoping that Russia will soon change
its mind and reopen air traffic.
"We hope that very soon Russian air space will be opened to Georgian
planes, but if air traffic is cancelled for a long time passengers
who wish to get their money back can return tickets. However, we are
going to find alternative routes for flights," the director general
of Airzena, Tamaz Gaiashvili, told journalists on Tuesday.
Georgia politicians and analysts have unanimously declared the
transport ban politically motivated, but some Russian officials have
been quick to deny this. Chief of the Russian air navigation service,
Alexander Naradko, claims Georgian airlines owe USD 3.6 million for
air traffic services, with some debts dating back to 2001.
The representatives of three Georgian companies operating
Tbilisi-Moscow, Georgian Airways, Georgian National Airlines and
TbilAviaMsheni, categorically deny the existence of a debt.
Reportedly, the Georgian Air Navigation Department and representatives
of Aeroflot (Russia's national carrier) have received official notices
about the ban from the Russian aviation authority.
Representatives of the Georgian air navigation department call the
putative reasons for banning flights absurd, and vow to take the
matter to the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Georgia is still open to Russian flights, however, and the many
flights from Russia to Armenia and beyond are still able to use
Georgian airspace. "Russian companies use Georgian airspace... We
are not making any obstacles for them, let them fly," said Giorgi
Karbelashvili, chief of the Air Navigation Department.
Georgian Railway ltd. received official notification of the rail link
closure from Russia on October 3. Russia claims the trains have been
cancelled due to lack of passengers. The direct Tbilisi-Moscow service,
which runs via Baku, has only been operational since May.
"Russia's reasons for stopping train services are baseless because
usually over 90 percent of tickets are sold for the Tbilisi-Moscow
trip. At present 30 percent of passengers have already returned the
tickets as they cannot go to Russia," deputy director general of
Georgian Railway ltd., Irakli Kandelaki, said on Tuesday.
Batumi, from which three ferries a week usually sail to the Russian
Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, has also been taken by surprise.
About 50 passengers have returned their tickets so far.
Boris Gryzlov, Speaker of the Russian State Duma, was happy to allude
to the political nature of these latest restrictions.
"The sanctions imposed by the executive authorities are directed
against Saakashvili's regime, and not against the Georgian people,"
reassured Gryzlov.