Georgia has embargoed its airspace to Syrian carriers following Damascus's recent decision to recognize the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries.
“I can confirm that Georgia’s airspace is closed for two Syrian air companies: Syrianair (RB, Damascus) and Cham Wings Airlines (SAW, Damascus),” the Director-General of Georgia's Air Navigation Service, Gocha Mezvrishvili, told Reuters. “It will be closed for any Syrian air companies ... We made this decision after Syria recognized our occupied regions.”
In May, Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze said Tbilisi had begun taking steps to fully severe diplomatic ties with Syria while labelling Bashar al Assad to be a pawn of Russia.
"Recognition of [the] independence of historic regions of Georgia, Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), by the Russian-manipulated Assad regime in Syria, is another blatant violation of Int[ernational] Law by Assad and should be condemned by the int[ernational] community," he said.
South Ossetia and Abkhazia are Russian-backed separatist regions that have declared independence from Georgia. In August 2008, Russia recognized both regions as independent states following a brief conflict with Georgia. Interfax has stated that Russia has based troops in both regions.
