Georgia Urges Russia to Reopen Border

The Georgian Border Guard Department appealed, on October 21 the Russian Border Guard Service urging for the reopening of the Larsi checkpoint at the Russo-Georgian border, which was closed after the Beslan hostage-taking tragedy in early September.

The border at the Larsi checkpoint has been opened only for three times for a couple of hours each time since September

Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council Gela Bezhuashvili told reporters on October 19 that the situation at the border checkpoint is difficult. ?There are lots of cars and people waiting for the border to be reopened. We are waiting for the Russian side to explain [why the border remains closed],? he said.