According to a statement made by Georgian Airways, President Salome Zurabishvili will not be allowed to fly with the airline until it apologizes to the Georgian people.
Georgian Airways' decision to resume flights between Georgia and Russia comes just days after the Kremlin lifted a ban on flights between the two countries, leading to a significant thaw in diplomatic relations.
Georgia faces a flurry of criticism from outside Ukraine and the European Union in connection with its readiness to resume flights to Russia, but Georgia Airways, in turn, lashed out at politicians for calling for a boycott of Georgia Airways. As a result, the president was declared “persona non grata: until she apologizes to the Georgian people, we will not let her on board.”
“It's a shame that someone dares to call our company a traitor! It is clear that the ruling forces behind this dirty campaign are ready to go against their own country and the interests of the people in obtaining foreign grants.