Russia’s Federation Council Senator Grigory Karasin told Moscow-based daily newspaper Kommersant that it is “early” to talk about resuming air traffic with Georgia.
In the interview, published today, Karasin blamed “radical screamers in Georgia” for adding uncertainty to the issue. Karasin was referring to March 31-April 1 protests over the trip of Vladimir Pozner, Russian-American journalist to Georgia in order to celebrate his birthday with the curfew-defying feast with Russian celebrities in Tbilisi.
Karasin thanked Georgian PM Irakli Gharibashvili for the “balanced and condemning statement” which “slammed the protest for clearly transgressing civilized norms“.
Karasin also mentioned that he continues to “work online” with Zurab Abashidze, Georgian PM’s special representative for Russia in the informal bilateral dialogue.
Air traffic remains suspended since July 2019 as per Russian President Vladimir Putin’s June 21, 2019 order. The decree cited the need to protect Russian citizens “from violence or other illegal actions” following the unrest over MP Gavrilov’s visit.
