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Tajikistan stands for new air service agreement with Russia — embassy

Russia may suspend flights to Tajikistan on a unilateral basis on November 8 due to Dushanbe’s refusal to approve flights operated by Russian carriers from Zhukovsky

© Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS

MOSCOW, November 3. /TASS/. The Tajik side considers it necessary to enter into a new agreement on air service with Russia, Sarvar Bakhti, a spokesman for the Tajik Embassy in Moscow, told TASS Thursday.

"The issue on potential flights to Dushanbe and Khujend from Zhukovksy Airport has been under discussion since August and is not covered by the existing bilateral agreement on mutual aviation operations. In this respect the Tajik side considers it necessary to make a new agreement and has suggested that representatives of engaged departments should meet in Dushanbe on November 24," he said, adding that the Embassy "has already sent a relevant note to the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation."

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Russia may suspend air service with Tajikistan starting November 8 — ministry

As was reported earlier representatives of transport ministries of the two countries plan to discuss the air service issue on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek later on Thursday.

Earlier head of the General Directorate of Civil Aviation at the Ministry of Transport оf the Republic of Tajikistan Muhammadyusuf Rahmonov said that the country’s Transport Ministry assumes that flights from the new Russian airport Zhukovsky amid current environment are unprofitable.

As TASS reported earlier with reference to Kommersant business daily, Russia may suspend flights to Tajikistan on a unilateral basis on November 8 due to Dushanbe’s refusal to approve flights operated by Russian carriers from Zhukovsky. According to the Ministry, Tajikistan’s aviation authorities are reluctant to approve flights operated by Russian airlines from Zhukovsky International Airport to the Central Asian country, saying that the airport belongs to Moscow’s airport hub, whereas according to the Russian legislation, Zhukovsky belongs to the Ramensky region. Russia’s Transport Ministry also assumes that the attempt by Tajikistan to define the status of the Russian airport violates the sovereignty of Russian authorities on their own territory, while the refusal to approve assignments for a Russian carrier from Zhukovsky directly violates the air service agreement between the countries.

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