Kyiv’s diplomatic scene grew tense as Ukraine’s Charge d’Affaires Oleksandr Shulha was summoned by Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs amid sanctions targeting Georgian Airways. The move signals a public exchange between Kyiv and Tbilisi over the sweeping restrictions and the ongoing flight resumption between Georgia and Russia.
Reports from Imedi indicate that the meeting with representatives of Georgia’s Foreign Ministry has already commenced, with both sides preparing to outline their positions on the sanctions and their broader impact on civil aviation ties between the two nations.
Tamaz Gaiashvili, who once led Georgian Airways, has publicly anticipated a government response to the sanctions announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He framed the Ukrainian measures as unjust and pledged that Georgia will respond in kind, seeking parity with Kyiv’s decisions in a manner that reflects Georgia’s stance on regional air links and sovereignty matters.
Zelensky’s July actions included broad-scope sanctions on more than 190 individuals and 291 legal entities across Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Georgia. The list underscores Kyiv’s effort to pressure governments and companies connected to perceived security threats and destabilizing activities, with aviation being a focal point given the resumed flights between Georgia and Russia.
In this context, Georgian Airways and its leadership found themselves in the crosshairs of Western-aligned sanctions, a move that followed Georgia’s decision to normalize air service with Russia after years of restricted travel. The Georgian aviation sector has navigated a delicate balance between economic opportunities and regional political pressures, making these sanctions a pivotal moment for future aviation policy in the South Caucasus. [Attribution: Georgian Foreign Ministry; Ukrainian President Office; Imedi TV]
The broader aviation sector in the region has been watching closely as state actors navigate sanctions regimes and the complex geopolitics of air travel in post-Soviet space. The Georgian government has expressed a desire to maintain open air routes while respecting international sanctions regimes, a stance that could influence upcoming policy decisions and airline operations. [Attribution: regional policy analyses]