European Council President Donald Tusk said that Russia’s decision to ban flights to Georgia was “unjustified and disproportionate.” but added “your country has weathered external pressure before and will do so in the future.”
Relations between Russia and Georgia came under strain three weeks ago when protests erupted in Tbilisi over a visit by a Russian lawmaker with many demonstrators saying they were angry about the continued presence of Russian troops on Georgian soil.
The small nation, an ally of the United States, fought and lost a short war against Russia in 2008.
The countries have not had diplomatic ties since, and Russia went on to recognise the independence of two breakaway Georgian regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, where Russian troops are now garrisoned.
