Official: US may slap sanctions on Georgia over flights with Russia

WASHINGTON, May 12 (PRIME) -- Washington may slap sanctions on Georgian companies in case the country restores direct air travel with Russia, U.S. State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a briefing late on Thursday.

If flights between Russia and Georgia are restored, Georgian companies may face the risk of sanctions if they service aircraft that fall under the import and export control measures, Patel said.

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday cancelled the visa regime with Georgia and lifted a ban for Russian air carriers to fly to the country directly. The Transport Ministry said then that the authorities expected airlines to carry out seven direct flights from Moscow to Tbilisi per week using Russia-made aircraft.

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