MOSCOW, August 28 (RIA Novosti) - The head of Russia's air navigation service recommended Thursday that Russian air carriers avoid Georgian airspace, which he said was too dangerous for civilian flights.
"Georgian airspace now poses a threat to the flights of civilian airplanes," Russia's Transport Ministry quoted Alexander Neradko as saying.
Earlier Thursday, Georgian air traffic controllers had refused to handle a flight by the Belarusian national airline Belavia above Georgia's border with Russia.
The pilot was forced to change course to ensure a safe trip, Neradko said.
Georgia's aviation officials have as yet given no explanation for the move, the official added.
A similar incident occurred Monday involving a Yak-42 plane from the Russian air carrier Volga-AviaExpress.
"The crew of the Russian plane had nothing left to do but to change the route and use air corridors bypassing Georgia," the Ministry said in a statement.
