Air traffic between Russia and separatist Abkhazia will proceed despite Georgia’s efforts to ban Russian airlines from operating flights to Sukhumi airport, according to Alkhas Kvitsinia, Abkhazia’s Ambassador to Russia, in an interview with RIA Novosti.

“We regard Georgia’s actions as an attempt to obstruct an objectively inevitable process. Abkhazia and Russia have already agreed on air traffic, and it will commence as scheduled. We urge Tbilisi to abandon confrontational rhetoric and finally sign an agreement with us on the non-use of force. Regardless, the planes will fly, and residents of Abkhazia and Russia will be able to travel freely to each other, despite protests from Tbilisi,” the ambassador stated, as quoted by RIA Novosti.

Previously, the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency issued a statement, published by bm.ge, declaring that the operation of Sukhumi airport is illegal and that any airline operating flights to Abkhazia “will violate the fundamental principles of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.” Tbilisi asserts that it has the “unconditional support” of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

“Sukhumi airport lacks an aerodrome suitability certificate issued by the Georgian aviation authorities. It is prohibited to use an aerodrome for civil aviation purposes in Georgia without a valid certificate issued by the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency. Operating international air traffic from an illegally operated airport constitutes a gross violation of international civil aviation norms. A foreign airline operating flights to occupied Abkhazia will breach the core principles of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. The Civil Aviation Agency maintains ongoing coordination with ICAO to ensure the inadmissibility of international flights from the so-called Sukhumi airport. The agency leverages all available platforms, including ICAO Assembly sessions, meetings of the ICAO European and North Atlantic regions, bilateral discussions with ICAO leadership, and technical consultations, to keep the ban on international flights from airports in Georgia’s occupied territories on the agenda,” the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency stated in a written response to BMG.

However, the Abkhaz side considers attempts to use ICAO to isolate Abkhazia futile, Kvitsinia said. “Yes, Georgia formally enjoys the support of the majority in ICAO, and our airport code has been revoked there since 2006. But it’s important to understand: the planned Moscow-Sukhumi flights do not threaten anyone’s security,” the ambassador emphasized. Earlier reports indicated that regular flights to Sukhumi airport are set to begin in May 2025. A test flight to Abkhazia was conducted by the Russian airline UVT Aero.