Armoured vehicles at Russia-Georgia border “no threat of aggression” - defence minister
Georgian defence minister Juansher Burchuladze on Tuesday said that interior security from the Georgian side at all border crossing checkpoints had been “particularly tightened”. Photo: defence ministry press office
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Georgian defence minister Juansher Burchuladze on Tuesday said the recent appearance of an armoured military vehicle at the Russia-Georgia border “carries no threats” of military aggression, noting the development was Russia’s “internal issue”.
Burchuladze was making the comment after the federal security service of Russia earlier this week said an armoured vehicle was being stationed at the Upper Larsi border crossing checkpoint with Georgia to “prevent unforeseen situations” following the announcement of partial military mobilisation in Russia for its ongoing war against Ukraine.
Speaking to domestic media, the Georgian official stressed interior security from the Georgian side at all border crossing checkpoints had been “particularly tightened” in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
Georgia has always ensured strict control at its checkpoints. However, currently, maximum resources are mobilised to prevent any threats there”, said the minister.
Russian media on Monday reported Moscow also had plans to set up a registration and recruitment point near the Georgian border, following reports on an increased flow of Russian citizens looking to evade military service by crossing the border.
Lasha Khutsishvili, the minister of finance of Georgia, on Monday said the number of individuals entering and leaving the country had both increased recently, stressing the “situation is under full control” at border checkpoints.
- Revenue service announces “round the clock” customs operations amid “increased cargo flow” in region
The minister stressed there was “no dramatic situation” at checkpoints and rejected the opposition’s claims over an alleged "mass influx"of Russian nationals following the announcement of the partial mobilisation in Russia.
Khutsishvili said additional personnel had been sent to staff checkpoints across the country in response to the increased flows of individuals and cargo across the borders, noting crossing point staff were working “round the clock”.
The number of Russian citizens entering the territory of Georgia over the recent days is in the pre-pandemic range, Georgia’s Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili said on Monday.
Lasha Khutsishvili, the minister of finance of Georgia, on Monday said the number of individuals entering and leaving the country had both increased recently, stressing the “situation is under full control” at border checkpoints.
The Georgian revenue service on Monday said all customs checkpoints across the country were working “round the clock” amid increased cargo flow throughout the South Caucasus region, adding it had added personnel to the staff at the crossing points to ensure “smooth operation”.
The Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia on Thursday dismissed reports by several opposition-minded TV channels on alleged problems in monitoring of international cargo shipments and provision of border crossing procedures at the Kazbegi checkpoint on the Russia-Georgia border in the north of Georgia.
The Georgian interior ministry on Tuesday released statistics on border crossings to Georgia made by Russian citizens over the last 10 days and detailed rules for entering the country and grounds for refusal, in response to recent claims by the domestic opposition on a “mass influx” of Russian nationals following the announcement of partial military mobilisation in the country last week for Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.