The Georgian foreign ministry said Moscow will violate international law by starting direct flights to Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia which Georgia considers its "occupied" territory.
Russia recognized Abkhazia as an independent state in 2008, after a five-day war with Georgia, which attacked another former republic, South Ossetia, seeking to bring it back under the central control.
Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh said last week direct air flights between Moscow and the Abkhazian capital may be restored in early July. Passenger aircraft belonging to the Russian Air Force will perform two flights weekly.
"Flights by any aircraft without the consent of Georgian authorities are a blatant violation of the [Russian-Georgian] Agreement on international air corridors," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said Georgia will undertake legal measures at the international level "to suppress violations of the country's sovereignty."
Under the Russia-Georgian civil aviation deal, signed in 1993, the two states establish flight routes over their territories. Charter, additional and special flights are to be agreed beforehand, and be carried out with the consent of the other state.
Air travel between Russia and Abkhazia halted in 1993 soon after the start of the Abkhazian-Georgian military conflict.
TBILISI, May 31 (RIA Novosti)
