Tbilisi Denies Entry to Passengers Coming via Roki Tunnel

Civil Georgia, Georgia
July 10 2006

The Georgian side has stepped up security measures at the checkpoint
in the Ergneti village, at the administrative border with breakaway
South Ossetia, to prevent foreign citizens’ entrance into Georgia
via Roki Tunnel, the Georgian media sources reported on July 10.

These measures came after the Russian side closed down the border
crossing checkpoint with Georgia in Zemo Larsi on July 8 citing
repair works. But the Georgian side has condemned decision as
politically-motivated.

The Zemo Larsi is the only legally operating border checkpoint
with Russia.

Two others are located in breakaway regions of South Ossetia (Roki
Tunnel) and Abkhazia.

Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi
Khaindrava said that closure of Zemo Larsi checkpoint aimed to
complicate situation in the South Ossetian conflict zone.

"It is clear that when the only legally operating border crossing
point is closed down than people start searching for other means to
enter into the country and the Roki Tunnel becomes an option. But it
is illegal one," Giorgi Khaindrava told reporters on July 10.

Reportedly several passengers moving from Russia into Georgia and
into Armenia via Georgia are trapped in the conflict zone, as the
Georgian side refuses to let them in.

The Georgian televisions broadcasted Zurab Arsoshvili, chief of the
Shida Kartli regional Financial Police, telling Armenian citizens
return back to Russia and "enter into the country legally though
Zemo Larsi."

"It is impossible to register here those who are coming into the
country as here is no legally operating checkpoint, so there should
be no movement here," he told reporters.