On May 1, 2025, for the first time after a 30-year pause, air flights were restored between the Russian Federation and the de facto republic of Abkhazia and a Russian passenger plane landed at Sokhumi Airport. This fact was criticized by international and local experts.

In accordance with international aviation standards, any unauthorized flight carried out by Russia over the occupied territories constitutes a violation of the fundamental norms and principles of international law and at the same time ignores the requirements of flight safety and aviation security. In particular, according to the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Sokhumi airport and its airspace have been closed since 1993 (due to the violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as a result of the 1992-1992 Abkhazian war). In addition, according to Georgian legislation, the region and its airspace are under a special legal regime, which prohibits international air traffic without the permission of the Georgian Government. After the resumption of unauthorized flights, international and local experts called on ICAO to support Georgia’s sovereignty, ensure Russia’s compliance with international norms, and hold the relevant Russian civil aviation authorities and airlines accountable. The Georgian Civil Aviation Agency stated that any international flight from the illegally opened airport in Abkhazia would pose a threat to aviation and passenger safety. They also noted that the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already addressed ICAO with a diplomatic note on this issue.

The Georgian Dream Government only “formally” condemned the resumed unauthorized flights between Sokhumi and Moscow, which led to criticism from representatives of opposition parties and experts for not responding in a timely manner. It is noteworthy that, against the backdrop of the flights resumed between Russia and Georgia in May 2023, Georgian Dream has not effectively raised the issue of the responsibility of Russian airlines operating flights from Sokhumi Airport on international platforms or during diplomatic negotiations, especially against airlines that are subject to EU sanctions.

Although Abkhazian President Badr Gunba optimistically predicted that a million passengers would be transported through the Sokhumi Airport by 2025, this prediction turned out to be unfounded given the current limited flight schedule (two flights per week to two Russian cities) and high ticket prices. Due to the lack of an international license, the Sokhumi Airport operates flights only within the Russian Federation.

Flights operated at Sokhumi Airport in violation of international security protocols pose a serious threat to both passenger safety and regional stability.