Influx of Russian citizens “significantly reduced” - Georgian interior ministry

The Georgian interior ministry on Friday said the flow of Russian nationals across Georgian borders had “significantly decreased” over the past two days, following the recently announced partial mobilisation by the Kremlin to recruit at least 300,000 for its war in Ukraine, which pushed many in the country to flee to evade military service. 

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In its comments, the ministry said figures for the entry of Russian citizens had decreased at all Georgian border checkpoints, including at the Dariali checkpoint in northern Georgia. 

The state body said 6,109 Russian citizens had crossed into Georgia between 10 a.m. on Thursday and 10:00 a.m. on Friday, while 5,186 left the country in the reported period. It also added that 9,642 Russian nationals had entered the Georgian territory between 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday and 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, while 5,448 departed. 

Traffic across the Dariali checkpoint “has returned to the usual mode”, the ministry said, adding no traffic jams had been reported on roads unlike last week, and pledging the body would release statistical information on border crossings “proactively” due to the “high interest” in the public. 

The state body on Tuesday also released statistics on border crossings to Georgia made by Russian citizens over the previous 10 days, saying 78,742 citizens of Russia had entered Georgia and 62,120 left the country between September 17 and 26. 

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The ministry said the figures confirmed there was “no dramatic increase” in the flow of Russian citizens - as was claimed by a part of the country’s domestic opposition - and noted more than 60 percent of Russian visitors were leaving the country shortly after the arrival.