Tskhinvali to Close Crossing Points Ahead of Presidential Runoff

The security service of the Moscow-backed authorities of Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia announced today that five crossing points connecting the region to the rest of the country will be closed in relation to the Presidential runoff on November 28

“The State Security Committee of the Republic of South Ossetia informs that due to increased security measures in the period of the Presidential runoff in Georgia, crossing points with Georgia will be temporarily closed from 8pm on November 27. They will resume operating at 6am on November 29,” the security service said on November 26.

Tskhinvali authorities closed the crossing points ahead of the first round as well.

According to the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), there are five crossing points in the region – in villages Sinaguri (Sachkhere district), Karzmani (Sachkhere district), Zardiaantkari (Gori district), Ergneti (Gori district) and Odzisi (Mtskheta district). The latter serves residents of Akhalgori Municipality, and is used by 400 persons daily.

Akhalgori Municipality, the territory of which was almost entirely under the jurisdiction of the central government before the Russo-Georgian War of 2008, is home to 4,209 persons (roughly half of the pre-war population), according to the region’s Russian-backed authorities. 55.5% (2,337) of the total population are ethnic Georgians.

Majority of Akhalgori residents hold Georgian citizenship and are eligible to cast ballot.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)