Georgia Eases Passport Controls at Russian Border

Georgian Deputy Security Minister Gigi Ugulava said on June 28 that the authorities will ease passport controls at the Larsi checkpoint, which lies near the town of Kazbegi, on the Russian and Georgian border.

This action comes as a response to the recently imposed blockade of bus traffic between Russia and Georgia via the breakaway South Ossetian region.

Ugulava said that all the passengers coming from Russia will be able to get Georgian visas in a simplified fashion at the Larsi checkpoint.

The Georgian side had to resort to these measures after South Ossetian de facto authorities blocked the roads on June 26, which resulted in passenger buses en route from Georgia to Russia and vice versa being barred from entering Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia.

The Interior Ministry of South Ossetia explained that the move is retaliation for the confiscation of several fuel trucks en route to South Ossetia. Georgian authorities claim the trucks were loaded with smuggled goods.