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CRIMEA-ARMENIA FLIGHT HANGS IN THE AIR
EurasiaNet.org
Oct 28 2014
October 28, 2014 - 7:51am, by Giorgi Lomsadze
An airline out of the rambunctious Russian republic of Chechnya
was planning to launch flights from Crimea to Armenia next month,
but Yerevan, ever image-conscious, now seems hesitant to be the
only direct, regular international destination for trips from the
Russian-annexed peninsula.
Armenia's aviation regulators late last week refused to authorize
flights run by Grozny Avia between the Crimean capital of Simferopol
to Yerevan.
International airlines are avoiding Russian-occupied skies over
Crimea. Russia's Aeroflot operates direct flights to Crimea from
Moscow, with most flights for this month largely sold out.
Armenia's Civil Aviation Agency cited unspecified errors in Grozny
Avia's application as the reason for its refusal to allow the flights,
RFE/RL reported. The refusal is not conclusive and Grozny Avia can
technically reapply, but some believe that Armenia is trying to avoid
further miffing Ukraine, already upset over Yerevan's backing the
right to self-determination of the Crimean people.
The former head of the Civil Aviation Agency, Shagen Petrosian, said
that allowing such flights would also significantly damage Armenia's
reputation and could possibly lead to international sanctions,
epress.am reported.
On the other hand, Armenia risks also to anger its big brother, Russia,
by refusing access to this flight. Yerevan just recently finalized a
2015 kickoff-date for its long-awaited membership in the Russian-led
Eurasian Economic Union.
Perhaps counting on Moscow to put pressure on Yerevan, Grozny Avia
continues to sell tickets from Simferopol to Yerevan on its website.
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/70631
EurasiaNet.org
Oct 28 2014
October 28, 2014 - 7:51am, by Giorgi Lomsadze
An airline out of the rambunctious Russian republic of Chechnya
was planning to launch flights from Crimea to Armenia next month,
but Yerevan, ever image-conscious, now seems hesitant to be the
only direct, regular international destination for trips from the
Russian-annexed peninsula.
Armenia's aviation regulators late last week refused to authorize
flights run by Grozny Avia between the Crimean capital of Simferopol
to Yerevan.
International airlines are avoiding Russian-occupied skies over
Crimea. Russia's Aeroflot operates direct flights to Crimea from
Moscow, with most flights for this month largely sold out.
Armenia's Civil Aviation Agency cited unspecified errors in Grozny
Avia's application as the reason for its refusal to allow the flights,
RFE/RL reported. The refusal is not conclusive and Grozny Avia can
technically reapply, but some believe that Armenia is trying to avoid
further miffing Ukraine, already upset over Yerevan's backing the
right to self-determination of the Crimean people.
The former head of the Civil Aviation Agency, Shagen Petrosian, said
that allowing such flights would also significantly damage Armenia's
reputation and could possibly lead to international sanctions,
epress.am reported.
On the other hand, Armenia risks also to anger its big brother, Russia,
by refusing access to this flight. Yerevan just recently finalized a
2015 kickoff-date for its long-awaited membership in the Russian-led
Eurasian Economic Union.
Perhaps counting on Moscow to put pressure on Yerevan, Grozny Avia
continues to sell tickets from Simferopol to Yerevan on its website.
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/70631