The decision to restore direct air traffic will largely benefit not Georgian citizens, but Russian citizens, perhaps a million citizens who want to come to Georgia, US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said.
According to her, it is understandable why Georgian people are concerned, why they want to know what price Georgia will have to pay if Russia takes further steps to normalize relations with Georgia.
"I understand why the Georgian people are concerned about this and why they are worried. The latest data shows that there are about 130,000 Georgians living in Russia, and most of them have dual citizenship, and those who wanted to leave Russia did so last year. The decision to restore direct air traffic will largely benefit not Georgian citizens, but Russian citizens, perhaps a million citizens who want to come to Georgia. Therefore, it is understandable why people are concerned, why they want to know what price Georgia will have to pay if Russia takes further steps to normalize relations with Georgia, while Russia continues to occupy 20 percent of Georgia's territory, continues to detain Georgian citizens in South Ossetia, continues to pressure this country and continues to attack and bomb Ukraine. So, I think the concern of the Georgian people is justified," the Ambassador said.
