Russia Remains Concerned over Pankisi Gorge

Deputy Chief of the Russian Border Guard Service Aleksander Manilov said, on October 22, that the situation in Georgia?s Pankisi gorge is still a source of concern for Russia. He also said despite difficulties, the situation is under control on the Russo-Georgian border.

?The situation on the border is difficult, strained, but we are in full control of the situation? Pankisi gorge was and is the source of concern for the Russian side,? Aleksander Manilov was quoting by the RIA Novosti news agency as saying.

Pankisi gorge is in the mountainous north-eastern part of Georgia, near the Russian border and served as a safe haven for Chechen rebels in the recent past. But now the Georgian authorities claim that the area is secure and no militants are currently in the gorge.

Aleksander Manilov also said that Russian border guards are actively cooperating with their Georgian colleagues

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry informed the Georgian side on Friday that the Russian-Georgian border at the Larsi checkpoint, which has been closed by the Russian side since early September, will be reopened on October 22.