Georgian Airways said it had requested the Russian aviation authorities to allow the Georgian air carrier to resume Tbilisi-Moscow direct flights starting from January 5.

Georgian Airways, formerly Airzena, also requested for daily charter flights to the Russian capital from December 26 to January 15.

The move comes following Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s statement that he did not see obstacles in resolving the issue of resumption of direct flights and after the Georgian President’s response that he would welcome if sanctions were removed, a spokesperson for the Georgian Airways said on December 22.

The Russian Transport Ministry said on December 21 that it had received a request from Georgia on resumption of direct flights, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

Russia cut direct air flights with Georgia in October, 2006, following spy row between the two countries. The flights were restored for several months in 2008 and cut again after the August war.