Georgia - 12th Oct 2019- Travel & Acomm

For anyone flying via Moscow: Russia and Ukraine cancelled direct flights between the two countries in 2015. They still haven't been restored. This could very well be the same and it is probably worth looking into other options; if you are offered a full refund and can get an alternative route for similar pricing, take it.

It's all part of Putin's plans to destabilise neighbouring countries; it stops them joining NATO or the EU. If the countries in question do not control all of their de jure territory, and are partially occupied by Russian troops, NATO and the EU will not let them in. Moldova is in that position (Transnistria), as is Ukraine (the Donbass) and Georgia (South Ossetia & Abkhazia). Arguably the only reason they haven't directly messed with Belarus is because Lukashenko is so pro-Russian; they are already part of a customs union and they recently signed a treaty on mutual visa recognition.

The Baltic states all have sizeable Russian minorities, largely in the East of their countries. They're just lucky that they joined the EU and NATO about fifteen years ago because if they hadn't, they'd quite possibly be facing similar issues to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. Russia simply didn't have the money or inclination in the 1990s to mess about in neighbouring countries but in the 2000s they definitely did, plus a president a little more assertive and a little less drunk.

Long and short of it, Russia tends to play a long game. I doubt these flights will be restored soon. It's just another f**k you to a country that isn't doing what Russia wants it to do.

I think it is best if you don’t go at all, for safety reasons.

 

Pass the shovel onto someone else

As far as I’m aware only passengers wearing the official Irish jersey will be allowed board the plane.

Jaysus Sham, is he one of the crew who showed up in Mainz and ran onto the pitch? still laugh at that

Tranny