Passengers of the first regular flight from Russia to Abkhazia shared their impressions

On May 1, passengers of the first regular flight from Russia to Abkhazia in more than 30 years shared their impressions of the flight with Izvestia.

"The flight was in unison, we sang songs, we read poetry, we all communicated. <...> It's just an incredible feeling we all experience. Thank you to everyone involved in this event," said Natalia Atyaksheva, a passenger on the plane.

The first deputy head of the Russian presidential administration, Sergei Kiriyenko, said that regular flights to Abkhazia will run not only from Moscow. Scheduled flights to Sukhum from Nizhny Novgorod are scheduled to be launched next week. According to him, many Russian cities want to have direct flights to Abkhazia in order to "send their employees and citizens on vacation and recovery."

"Indeed, the implementation of this airport is a direct order from Russian President Vladimir Putin <...> The launch of the airport provides an opportunity for a serious increase in the tourist flow to Eastern Abkhazia," Kiriyenko added.

The President of Abkhazia, Badra Gunba, also thanked Putin for opening the airport in Sukhumi, noting that "without a political decision, this airport would not exist."

"I am confident that this historic event will bring a special impetus to the development of our state, our fatherland, and our bilateral relations," Gunba said.

Taking on Sukhum: trade turnover between Russia and Abkhazia has grown by 60% since 2020

Direct flights between the capitals are expected to open on May 1.

On May 1, the V.G. Ardzinba International Airport of Abkhazia in Sukhum accepted the first regular flight from Moscow after a break of more than 30 years. On the occasion of the resumption of flights, a solemn opening ceremony of the renovated international airport was held. On May 6, Ikar Airlines will launch flights from Nizhny Novgorod to Sukhum. In addition, negotiations are underway on direct flights from Sukhum to Ufa and Kazan.

On the same day, a new electric train "Dioscuria" began running between Russia and Abkhazia. It departs from the Imereti Resort station, located in Sirius, and goes to Sukhum.