New Year behind barbed wire:
Tskhinvali closes so-called border

Georgian and Ossetian relatives residing near the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) separating Georgia from its breakaway region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) will meet the New Year isolated from one another by barbed wire fences.

Families and acquaintances living in the ABL areas endured year-long uncertainty and hardship in the face of kidnappings of locals by occupying Russian border guards.

But the New Year's Eve festive period will not grant them much opportunity for a rare celebration following the announcement of the de facto authorities of Tskhinvali yesterday.

The passage through the ABL - used by civilians on both sides to cross the boundary - was closed down today morning and will remain shut until 9pm on January 1.

Learn more about spending festive season behind barbed wire separating Georgia from its breakaway regions in Lali Tsertsvadze's article.

Families and relatives living in towns and villages near the boundary will be prevented from crossing the line, with the de facto authorities citing "security" reasons for the measure.

Residents of the areas will be especially affected by the decision as their households were randomly separated by the establishment of the ABL.

The closing down of the boundary crossing was reported by local news agency Sputnik Ossetia, as the self-imposed South Ossetian authorities said the move was carried out "in relation to the information that some ISIS fighters are in Georgia”.