Protesters held banners saying “you are not welcome” at Tbilisi airport in Georgia, as the first direct flight for almost four years arrived from Russia.

They were barred from standing outside the arrivals hall by police, leading to scuffles.

After receiving Georgia’s civil aviation authority’s approval, Azimuth Airlines’ plane arrived at 13:20 local time (09:20 BST).

The return of direct flights from Russia has been welcomed by the Georgian government.

Irakli Kobakhidze, the chairman of the governing Georgian Dream party, said, “The beneficiaries are our citizens who must take a detour at triple the cost.”.

According to the government, a million ethnic Georgians living in Russia stand to benefit, but Russian statistics suggest the number is closer to 114,000.

The majority of Georgians oppose the government’s decision and more than 100 Georgian organizations call it “direct sabotage” of their country’s EU ambitions. By the end of the year, Georgia hopes to become a candidate after Brussels approves its bid.

A delegation of pro-Russian Georgian NGOs and businesses boarded the first flight, Russia’s state news agency reported. In addition to daily flights to Moscow, Georgian Airways is planning to fly there every day as well.

A thaw in relations appears to have occurred after President Vladimir Putin signed a decree ending Moscow’s unilateral ban on direct flights imposed in response to anti-Russia protests in Tbilisi in 2019.

Georgians no longer need a visa to visit Russia for up to 90 days, as the country has lifted its 20-year-old entry restrictions.

Despite this, there are no diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Georgia is still under Russian occupation on 20% of its internationally recognized territory since a war between Russia and Georgia in 2008.