Russia Recloses Border Checkpoint

Russia has again closed down the Zemo Larsi border crossing point with Georgia on September 3 after it was temporarily opened on August 31, Russian media sources reported.

According to the Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta the border crossing point was temporarily opened at the request of Russia?s North Ossetian leader Teimuraz Mamsurov. He convinced the Russian central authorities that reopening of the border would enable residents of the North Ossetian Republic who spent their summer vacation with relatives in Georgia to return back to North Ossetia.

Zemo Larsi is the only legally operating border crossing point between Russia and Georgia. Two other border checkpoints are located in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but official Tbilisi considers both of these crossing points illegal.

Georgia says the closure of the Zemo Larsi checkpoint was a political move aimed at the redirection of movement to the Roki Tunnel in South Ossetia as part of Moscow?s attempt to legalize the border crossing that connects with the breakaway region.

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