Russian media outlets report that Russian authorities may unilaterally suspend air communication with Tajikistan.

Citing a source at the Russian Ministry of Transport, Tass reported today that flights to Tajikistan may be suspended starting November 8, unless the country’s aviation authorities change their position on Zhukovsky International Airport. 

“If the position of Tajikistan’s aviation authorities remains unchanged, the Russian side reserves the right to suspend air service between Russia and Tajikistan starting 00:00 November 8, 2016 in order to avoid infringing of the rights of Russian airlines,” the source at the Ministry of Transport told Tass.

Earlier Kommersant business daily reported with reference to sources that Russia may suspend flights to Tajikistan on a unilateral basis on November 8 due to Dushanbe’s refusal to approve flights operated by Russian carriers from Moscow’s new Zhukovsky International Airport.

Tajik civil aviation authorities consider that Zhukovsky International Airport belongs to Moscow, and therefore, for permit for flights to Dushanbe from Zhukovsky International Airport it is necessary to review the government-to-government agreement on the air communication between the two coutnries.  Currently only Tajik air carriers operate on this line, and therefore, the Russian side speaks about infringement of rights of domestic players, Kommersant reports.

Zhukovsky International Airport is Moscow's fourth international airport. It is located in Moscow Oblast, Russia 40 kilometers southeast of central Moscow, in the town of Zhukovsky, a few kilometers southeast of the old Bykovo Airport.