Russia waives Georgia air blockade till end-August

MOSCOW, June 29 (Reuters) Russia waived its nine-month-old embargo on air links with ex-Soviet Georgia today letting one Georgian carrier fly between Moscow and Tbilisi over the next two months, Itar-Tass news agency cited the firm as saying.

Moscow severed air, sea and postal links with Georgia in October after a spying row triggered a sharp deterioration in relations between Moscow and Tbilisi's pro-Western government.

Russia is allowing the Airzena carrier to run passenger charter flights from July 3 to the end of August.

''The introduction of charter flights in July-August does not mean a renewal of regular air links between Russia and Georgia,'' an unnamed Airzena representative was quoted as saying.

In a similar move in April, Russia allowed three charter flights between Tbilisi and Moscow over the Easter holiday period. Russian and Georgian officials have been in talks for months about a permanent resumption of air links but there has been no sign they are close to a breakthrough.

Georgia says the Kremlin is punishing it for its push to join NATO and the European Union. Russia says Tbilisi's policies in the region are aggressive.

Reuters KK VP0237