I Expect Clarification on This Dangerous Information: MP

Armen Babajanyan, a member of the National Assembly, wrote on his Facebook page: "Direct flights between Crimea's Simferopol and Yerevan will begin in March 2020. This was announced by Alexey Chernyak, the head of the Tourism, Resorts, and Sports Committee of the Crimean parliament, according to РИА 'Новости.' According to him, the airline planning to operate these flights has already obtained the necessary permits. Chernyak noted that work is currently underway to coordinate schedules and airports. The flights will be conducted twice a week. He also mentioned that the connection to Yerevan will be the first international route since the referendum held in Crimea in March 2014.

The Armenian Civil Aviation Committee has not yet provided clarifications regarding this issue. Meanwhile, this matter requires explanation, as it could become very problematic for both Armenian aviation and in terms of foreign policy. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has imposed strict sanctions on countries and airlines that conduct flights to Crimea, and if the statement by the Crimean parliament official is true, sanctions may be imposed on the Armenian Civil Aviation Committee, with all resulting consequences.

Additionally, the issue undoubtedly has an external political component. Crimea's annexation to Russia has become a key marker of current geopolitical relations and is one of the main causes of the Russia-West confrontation. By conducting flights to Simferopol, Armenia would indirectly recognize the legitimacy of Crimea’s annexation to Russia, creating problems in its relations with Western countries. It is needless to say what kind of issues could arise from this in the resolution process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. If Simferopol-Yerevan flights become a reality, it would be a significant gift to Russia, as no country or airline has agreed to operate flights to the Crimean peninsula until today. However, such a gift could come at a very high price for Armenia.

I expect clarifications from the Civil Aviation Committee, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regarding this extremely sensitive and simultaneously dangerous information."