On May 10, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree restoring direct flights between Russia and Georgia, which had been suspended since the summer of 2009. The same day, he issued another decree allowing Georgian citizens visa-free entry to Russia for up to 90 days.

The decision was welcomed by members of the Georgian government. Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili called it “a positive step that any responsible government should welcome.” In contrast, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili described the move as a provocation.

It soon became clear that the flights would be operated by one Georgian airline (Georgian Airways) and several Russian carriers (Azimuth and Red Wings).

On May 16, political party youth groups — from Droa and the United National Movement — protested the decision near the parliament’s back entrance. The same day, another rally took place near the Government Administration building under the slogan “A one-way ticket to Moscow for Ivanishvili’s regime.” Members of European Georgia joined that demonstration.

The first flight from Moscow was carried out on May 19 by the Russian airline Azimuth. That day, activists and politicians, including Elene Khoshtaria (Droa) and Ana Dolidze (For the People), organized a car rally from Republic Square to Tbilisi Airport to protest. The Ministry of Internal Affairs deployed police, who blocked the demonstrators’ access to the airport.

Six protesters — activist Nata Peradze, Droa member Shushana Matsaberidze, doctor Giorgi Akhobadze, activist Gela Khasia, Levan Tarkhnishvili, and Tata Khundadze — were detained for petty hooliganism and disobeying police orders under Articles 166 and 173 of the Administrative Code.

Another demonstration followed on May 20 in front of the Georgian Parliament, later moving to Heroes’ Square.

Despite the protests, flights between Russia and Georgia officially resumed. However, citizens continued expressing their opposition — a petition opposing the flights gathered 6,084 signatures but was dismissed by the parliament’s Economic Policy Committee. The committee chair stated: “The state’s position is that it does not impose sanctions on Russia.”

On May 20, another protest was held in Kakheti, near the Kvareli Lake hotel, after reports that relatives of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov were staying there and that a wedding celebration for his daughter’s husband was planned. Police detained 19 protesters; the Gurjaani court later found 11 of them not guilty.

The wedding did not take place in Kvareli. President Salome Zurabishvili later stated that, according to the Interior Ministry, “the family has already left,” calling it “a victory for society — just like the departure of Sergey Gavrilov back then.”