On May 1, Russia commenced direct, regular flights to occupied Abkhazia. According to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, UVT Aero operated its first flight from Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport to Sukhumi two days ahead of schedule “due to high demand.”
Flights between Russia and occupied Abkhazia violate both international aviation regulations and the Georgian Constitution:
UVT Aero, which is internationally sanctioned and operates flights to Sokhumi in violation of Georgia’s Law on Occupation, continues to fly to other parts of Georgia as well.
📝 Our new report reveals:
How the reconstruction of Sokhumi airport began in 2023;
How sanctioned Russian airlines are being granted flight permissions;
What kind of threat this precedent poses to Georgia’s sovereignty; and
How the Georgian government is involved in this process through its inaction.
