Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has responded to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s statement about the possible resumption of direct flights with Georgia and said that she “does not welcome it.”

According to the President, while all partner countries express solidarity with Ukraine, “the position of the [Georgian] government and the ruling party is absolutely unclear.”

The President denounced the government’s arguments that the resumption of flights will mitigate the problems of Georgians living in Russia, saying that despite her attempts she failed to achieve any results over “easing the criteria for granting the citizenship” that worries Georgian citizens living abroad, including in Russia, most of all.

"We should understand that Russia pushes such issues to the forefront when it hopes to drive the wedge between us and our western partners. Georgia should not fall for these old tricks," Zurabishvili said.

The President stressed that instead of discussing this issue, "it is necessary to seriously study the issue of Russian citizens’ inflow in Georgia so that the society has a feeling that its national interests and security are protected.”

"We need regulations in relation to labor rights, business registration, property acquisition, opening of Russian-language schools. Also, instead of restoring flights, the government should care about the country's reputation and give critical responses to all accusations voiced against the country, namely about bypassing the sanctions through Georgia. All this requires a serious state approach and denial of accusations, which will be categorical and supported by facts!" Zurabishvili added.

More background: Speaking at the official press conference in Moscow, Lavrov fielded a question from the Georgian ultra-right, pro-Russian media and political movement Alt-Info.

"[...] I am glad that we have people-to-people contacts with Georgia actively developing. Last year, I was told, Georgia’s GDP grew by 10% largely due to tourism and trade relations with the Russian Federation. Hopefully, we will have direct flights again soon… that’s about it…

But we see to what extent Georgia and virtually all countries are experiencing pressure from the West to join sanctions against Russia openly, and publicly. And the fact that a small country and its government have the courage to say – will be guided by our interests, by interests of our economy – commands respect," Lavrov said.