MOSCOW, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Russia Tuesday denied that its decision to stop providing air services to Georgian air carriers was a transport blockade of the small Caucasus nation.
The Russian Foreign Ministry in a statement said the move was motivated by Georgia's continuing failure to pay for air services provided by Russia.
"There is no talk and cannot be any talk about any transport blockade of Georgia," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary issued Tuesday and reported by Interfax.
"Georgian air companies' debt for air services in Russia's air space exceeds $3.6 million," the commentary said. "Russia is not planning to seal its air space from Georgian air companies. It is only reminding Georgia of the need to pay its debt."
The Foreign Ministry said Russia would terminate air services for all debtor states starting from Oct. 1.
