Russia to restart air links with Georgia after 17-month halt

Russia on Tuesday to restore its air link with Georgia, which has been suspended for more than 17 months amid tensions between the ex-Soviet neighbors.

Russia's Transport Ministry said in a statement that it agreed to restore the link, starting next Tuesday, after Georgia agreed to pay a debt for navigation services provided to its planes over Russia.

While Moscow cited financial reasons for the suspension of the air link, Russia's relations with its small southern neighbor have been tense since US-backed Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili came to power in late 2003, vowing to integrate Georgia closely with the West.

Russia the air link in October 2006 after Georgian authorities briefly detained four Russian military officers it accused of spying.

While Moscow continues to bristle at Saakashvili's push to join NATO, the two neighbors recently have made efforts to ease tensions. Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Saakashvili on the sidelines of a summit of leaders of ex-Soviet nations in Moscow last month, and both governments have moderated their statements.

On Tuesday, Russian Deputy Transport Minister Boris Krol sent a letter to Georgian Economics Minister Vakhtang Lezhava saying Russia had agreed to resume regular flights, the Transport Ministry said.

Russia's Ministry hailed the resumption of air travel as an "important step toward restoring traditional good-neighborly ties" between the two nations.

It said the decision to restore the air link came after Georgia paid Russia's air navigation service US$2 million and agreed to pay a further US$1.7 million through October to fully settle its debt.

There was no immediate comment from Georgian officials.

Despite restoration of air travel, tensions remain over what Georgian authorities see as Russia's support for Georgia's breakaway provinces, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Both regions have had de facto independence since wars in the 1990s, when Russian peacekeepers were deployed to observe ceasefires. No country recognizes their governments, but Moscow has tacitly supported their autonomy -- granting most of their residents Russian passports and maintaining trade ties.