Today’s only functioning border crossing between the countries “Kazbegi – Upper Lars” is closed due to the pandemic from March 2020
Georgian authorities hope to raise the issue of opening the land border with Russia in the near future, in case the epidemic situation with the coronavirus allows it. Zurab Abashidze, the Georgian prime minister’s special envoy for the settlement of relations with Russia, told TASS on Wednesday.
“You know, the opening of the border with Russia depends on the epidemic situation. That is exactly the problem. I hope that the situation with the coronavirus will stabilize in our countries in the near future and we will be able to raise the issue of opening the border”, – Abashidze said.
The Georgian diplomat also added that he plans to hold an online meeting with Council of Federation member Grigory Karasin in the first quarter and did not rule out the possibility of opening the border as well.
The only border crossing point between Georgia and Russia in operation today, Kazbegi – Upper Lars, has been closed since March 2020 due to a new coronavirus pandemic. According to Georgia’s National Tourism Administration, Russian citizens made more than 209,000 visits to the republic in 2020, 85.8% less than in 2019. Georgia has no regular flights with the Russian Federation. It has been interrupted since July 2019 at the initiative of the Russian side.