26 Mar 2012 14:25

Minsk blames Moscow for air traffic disruption

MINSK. March 26 (Interfax) - Belavia Deputy General Director Ivan Cherginets has blamed Russia for the disruption of air traffic between Minsk and Moscow.

"That is the fault of the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency," he told a Monday press conference in Minsk.

"An indistinguishable force interfered, and the Russian aviation authorities revoked the Belavia permit. That decision endangered plans of passengers, many of them traveling by transit through Moscow," he said.

The decision affected about 180 passengers with departures planned for 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Minsk time, Cherginets said.

He added that Belavia either paid a refund or offered seats on other planes. Primarily, that was done for transit passengers.