The Georgian government said on Friday it...

Russia said earlier in the day it had granted Georgian Airways permission to run a series of charter flights between Tbilisi and Moscow over Orthodox Easter - on April 1, 2, 3, 10, 12 and 14.

"If Russia is ready to give a private Georgian airline an opportunity to make flights, the Georgian government has nothing against that," Georgia"s Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze said.

The airline said the agreement had been reached without any intervention from the Georgian government or political parties.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said permission had been granted "in view of the obvious humanitarian importance of such flights."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last month Moscow was ready to restart regular air service with Georgia.

Direct flights between Tbilisi and Moscow were suspended in 2006 over a spy flap between the former Soviet neighbors. They resumed for a short time in 2008 and were halted again after the August 2008 war between

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