NOW BOARDING: CHECHEN AIR FROM ARMENIA TO CRIMEA
EurasiaNet.org
Oct 3 2014
October 3, 2014 – 9:42am, by Giorgi Lomsadze
A brand new international travel option is underway for the
Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula. An airline based in Russia’s
North-Caucasus republic of Chechnya plans to launch direct flights
between the Armenian capital, Yerevan, and Crimea’s main city of
Simferopol, according to RIA-Novosti.
Grozny Avia, named after Chechnya’s capital, Grozny (Russian for
fearsome), was ordered into being by the obstreperous province’s
warlord-turned-president, Ramzan Kadyrov. The air company now conducts
domestic flights within the Russian Federation.
Its twice-weekly Yerevan-Simferopol flights are tentatively expected
to start on October 28, but may get pushed over into November, the
carrier told the agency Crimea Media.
Grozny Avia operated its first international flight out of Simferopol
to Istanbul in July, when Crimea was already under Russian control.
Regular flights were cancelled thereafter for “political reasons,” the
official story goes. Some news reports claimed that the cancellation
was a result of Turkey siding with Ukraine and its Western partners
in the dispute with Russia over Crimea and eastern Ukraine.
Earlier this year, the International Civil Aviation Organization
called on international carriers to avoid the Crimean airspace, which
Russia hijacked from Ukraine, along with the land below it. Currently,
all regular international flights to Crimea are mainly by Russia’s
Aeroflot.
Armenia’s reasons for wanting to help add Grozny Avia to the mix
are clear. With thoughts of breakaway Karabakh dancing in its head,
Yerevan recognized the Crimean referendum on joining Russia. (It’s
also had its own unsuccessful experience with trying to figure out
an air-link to Karabakh.)
But the main reason is the usual one — Armenia remains Moscow’s main
foothold in the South Caucasus.
Hints have started to circulate that, after repeated delays, Yerevan
might even sign on for good to Moscow’s Eurasian Union next Friday,
October 10, in Minsk.
Look for Grozny Avia to be happy about that.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Emil Lazarian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2014/10/04/now-boarding-chechen-air-from-armenia-to-crimea/
