The Georgian Maritime Transport Agency has clarified that claims circulating in Armenian media about the start of regular freight transport on the Batumi–Novorossiysk route are not accurate. These reports followed two commercial voyages by a vessel flying the Palau flag, and the agency stressed that those voyages do not indicate a broader resumption of regular service on the route.
In a statement, the agency explained that misinterpretations have arisen from information suggesting that routine maritime traffic would begin in April. The message emphasized that such predictions do not reflect the actual situation on the ground and should not be taken as a sign of impending normal operations between Batumi and the Russian port city of Novorossiysk.
Georgia’s approach to shipping safeguards its borders and sanctions regime. The country’s Revenue Administration and the Ministry of Finance continually monitor ships and ship owners to ensure compliance with international sanctions. They are vigilant about restricted vessels and prohibited individuals, and they do not permit such assets or persons to operate within Georgian waters or connect with Georgian ports.
In political developments, former Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili called for a boycott of Georgian Airways following the carrier’s decision to resume direct flights to Moscow. Zurabishvili argued that the airline’s actions could enrich a private enterprise at the expense of state interests. The stance reflects broader domestic concerns about state oversight, national economic strategy, and the optics of engaging in direct air links with Russia amid ongoing regional tensions. (Source: TASS)