OREANDA-NEWS. Moscow is demanding that Tbilisi urgently pay off its debts for its air navigation services.

Interfax, referring to the statement of the Ministry of Transport of Russia, reports that the ban on flights of Georgian airlines in the Russian Federation is justified by the need to ensure a sufficient level of aviation security, as well as Georgia’s overdue indebtedness for air navigation activities. 

The amount of debt approached 800 thousand dollars, as well as almost 600 thousand rubles, excluding the accumulated penalty fee. The Ministry of Transport reported that the Georgian side recognized the debt as early as 2008, but since then, it has not been repaid. 

The suspension of flights will continue until the Russian side receives the Aviation Security program of the companies “Georgian Airways” and “MyWay Airlines”, and the results of their audit. Another condition - the full repayment of the debt to the Russian Federation. The Ministry of Transport clarified that the Georgian side has already been notified of this.