The European Union has strongly condemned Russia's unilateral decision to initiate regular commercial passenger flights to Sukhumi, located in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region, calling it a violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In an official statement released by EU Spokesperson Anouar Elanouni, the EU reaffirmed its unwavering support for Georgia's sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders.

"The European Union deplores the unilateral decision by the Russian Federation to launch regular commercial passenger flights to Sukhumi in Georgia’s occupied breakaway region of Abkhazia," the statement reads.

The EU noted that the flights were initiated without the consent of Georgian authorities and in the absence of an international aviation code for the Sukhumi airport, underscoring it as another infringement on Georgia's territorial integrity by the Russian Federation.