Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has defended the government’s decision to introduce a new restricted airspace zone over Abastumani, stating that the measure was based on concerns raised by scientists working at the Abastumani Observatory.
Responding to criticism surrounding the decree, Kaladze said that researchers had formally addressed the government, warning that aircraft emissions were interfering with astronomical observations.
“The scientists working at the Abastumani Observatory addressed the government, saying that aircraft emissions were creating a problem during observation processes, therefore adjustments were made. Nothing extraordinary has happened. What is the problem with this?” Kaladze said.
He added that the request had been officially submitted in writing by observatory staff and that the government’s decision was a direct response to their concerns.
“I am telling you the truth: the scientists who specifically work at the observatory and conduct observations officially submitted a written request to the government, and a decision was made. What is the problem with adjusting the aircraft flight paths?” he stated.
Kaladze also pointed to the historical and financial context of the site, noting that Abastumani had been restored and developed with the personal funding of Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Georgia’s Radio Liberty reported that the changes were introduced through a government decree (No. 52), published on February 9, 2026, which partially amends a 2018 resolution regulating the structure and design of Georgian airspace.
Under the amendment, a new restricted and closed airspace zone named “Abastumani-2” has been established. The regulation prohibits passenger and cargo aircraft from entering an area with a diameter of approximately 28 nautical miles (52 km) above Abastumani, from ground level to unlimited altitude.
The no-fly zone begins at the Turkey–Georgia border and extends roughly 45 kilometers into Georgian territory. It encompasses Abastumani, the Adigeni municipality, and parts of southern Georgia, covering a total of around 2,000 square kilometers—an area reportedly at least four times larger than Tbilisi.
The decision has sparked public discussion, with critics questioning the scale of the restriction, while authorities maintain that the measure is a technical adjustment aimed at supporting scientific research.
Related story: Abastumani airspace to be closed to flights from April 16
