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Russia permits three charter flights from Georgia over Easter

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MOSCOW, April 4 (RIA Novosti) - Russia has allowed a Georgian airline to make three charter flights from Tbilisi to Moscow during the Easter holiday season, a Transportation Ministry spokesman said Wednesday.

Russia suspended air traffic with the South Caucasus state in October of last year following Tbilisi's brief arrest of Russian army officers on spying charges.

Russian officials claimed the decision was based on the outstanding debt owed by Georgian airlines to Russia, whereas Georgia insisted the move was political.

The spokesman said that Airzena Georgian Airlines has been granted permission to conduct three flights April 7, 10 and 11, but reaffirmed that the ban on regular flights remains in force and will be the subject of future bilateral talks.

The Russian Embassy in Georgia has confirmed that the charter flight issue has been settled.

"The Russian Foreign Ministry is preparing official documents allowing the requested flights," an embassy official said.

Russia and Georgia agreed during bilateral consultations in February to set up a group to search for ways of settling Georgian airlines' debts, which Russia claims currently total $3.6 million.

Russia has already restored postal links with Georgia, also suspended last year, and returned its ambassador and diplomatic staff to Tbilisi following what was the worst spat between the former Soviet allies since the Western-leaning Mikheil Saakashvili came to power in the ex-Soviet nation.

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