The Novosti-Georgia news agency said on Monday that the decision was taken because of the rude violation of international aviation norms. The pretext was the unsanctioned landing of Achara's Yak-42 plane in the Batumi airport on March 14 night. The plane was carrying Aslan Abashidze from Moscow to Batumi.
The Georgian civil aviation administration noted that the decision to close Batumi airport was taken on March 14 morning following the worsening of the situation in the territory of the autonomous republic. The ban did not spread on planes using the upper echelon of the air corridor.
The information on the closure of Batumi airport and the lower echelon above Adzharia was immediately passed to Russian colleagues and the Eurocontrol air traffic control center, said the administration.
The Achara crew violated the instruction using the uncertified air corridor for landing in Batumi, said the civil aviation administration.
Representatives of the Adzharian airline think the accusation is groundless, saying that when leaving Moscow they had got no notification on the closure of the air space above Adzharia.
