Gov't Warns Administration of Georgian Airways

Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated at a special briefing yesterday that private companies should not forget that if they do not follow the restrictions and fulfill obligations imposed as a part of the state of emergency regime, the state will take appropriate measures against them. 

With this statement, he responded to the question about the canceled flights of the airline 'Georgian Airways.' 

"The director of Georgian Airways is expecting to be paid the maximum amount of money and nothing more. Our task is simple, to transfer our citizens from Europe and around the world as fast as possible.

"As for this particular case, let's not forget that there a state of Emergency regime has been declared here. If companies do not fulfill their obligations in accordance with the state of emergency, which is in our citizens' interests, the heads of these companies will be fined first and then held criminally responsible. Tell that to the director of this company from me," the PM said. 

Flights of the company Georgian Airways, scheduled to several European cities, failed to be carried out due to the closure of Georgian airspace amid coronavirus fears. 

"It is absolutely clear that the challenge that the world is facing today will hurt aviation and airlines, among others. Today, however, everyone must put their commercial interests aside and we must all act with public interests in mind," Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava stated while responding to the cancelation of Georgian Airways flights. 

She added that all flight-related decisions will be agreed with the government to ensure that everyone returning to Georgia is quarantined.

"All flight-related decisions will be agreed with us because the people that we are bringing back must be put into quarantine from the beginning to the end, to maximize safety," Turnava concluded.

Foreign Affairs Minister Davit Zalkaliani stated on this issue that the repatriation of Georgian citizens from various countries should be carried out gradually, and that since they will have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival, relevant infrastructure will need to be prepared in the country.

"It is essential that this takes place in an agreed and coordinated manner. At the moment, we are not interested in any business interests. I am referring to the statements that were made, whereby the blame is being shifted onto the government as if this is coming from us. Our citizens' health is of paramount importance to us. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is collecting information from our embassies and consulates 24 hours a day. This information is then being accumulated and coordinated and agreed with all the government agencies involved in the reception of these people, primarily with the Ministry of Healthcare and the Ministry of Economy, and the flights are being planned accordingly. We must act very responsibly now, and none of us has the right to make a mistake. I ask everyone, including businesses, that business interests not be the main concern here, the state of the people's health is," Zalkaliani stated.

By Ana Dumbadze 

23 March 2020 13:55