Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Oct 23 2004
Russo-Georgian Border Reopened
23/10/2004 10:29
Reports say that Russia reopened its border with Georgia at the Larsi
checkpoint on October 22, after an almost two-month closure following
the Beslan hostage-taking tragedy in Russia’s North Ossetian Republic
in early September.
`Starting today the Larsi checkpoint will work at full capacity. The
Georgian Foreign Ministry and the Border Guard Department have
received relevant notes from Russia regarding the opening of the
checkpoint,’ Chairman of the Georgian Border Guard Department Badri
Bitsadze said on October 22.
The Larsi checkpoint, which is the only land border with Georgia
under Tbilisi’s control, was reopened only 4 times since September.
Closure of the border hit the revenues of the Georgian customs
department hard and also triggered concerns from Armenia, as the
Larsi checkpoint is the only land link with Russia for Armenian
citizens.
Russian media reported that Russia also lifted restrictions at the
Russian-Azerbaijani border on October 22.