The Georgian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development has issued a statement saying that Georgian airspace has not been crossed by a Russian Air Force plane but by an aircraft owned by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations. Thus, the Ministry responded to the information spread in the media, according to which, a Russian military plane flew from Moscow to Yerevan using Georgian airspace.

The Ministry clarifies that the flight was a military flight and did not require any additional permission from Georgia.

“We would like to respond to the information spread by the Main Channel TV today, according to which a Russian military plane flew from Moscow to Yerevan using Georgian airspace.

According to them, "it might become another international scandal if Georgia opens the airspace to the Kremlin", etc.

First of all, it should be noted that this TV station, traditionally, continues to make harmful, dangerous and irresponsible assessments, especially amidst the ongoing events in Ukraine. The journalists of the Main Channel spread disinformation through completely unverified messages obtained from their own "news" sources or political groups, and carry out a campaign against the Georgian Government with irresponsible statements not against the Government but the security policy of our country.

We clarify that Georgian airspace has not been crossed by Russian Air Force aircraft - Georgian sky was used by an aircraft owned by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, with registration number RA76429. The flight did not require any additional permits from Georgia”, reads the statement.

According to the Ministry, the Georgian airspace has been closed to Russian military aircrafts since 2008. "The emergency management aircraft does not have military status," it added.