23:57, 4 February 2019

South-Ossetian authorities complicate Georgian border crossing

The border between Georgia and South Ossetia. Photo: Zarina Sanakoeva (RFE/RL)

Citizens of South Ossetia will no longer be able to cross the border with Georgia on their passports; they will have to get a special pass, the South-Ossetian KGB (Committee for State Security) has announced.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 1, 2016, residents of the village of Velit in the Znauri District of South Ossetia held a protest action, where they stated that it was not convenient for to receive special passes and take them to the border zone. In January 2017, all citizens of South Ossetia were allowed to stay near the border with Georgia, having only their passports or service IDs on them.

The Facebook page of the South Ossetia's KGB reports that a deadline has been set (two weeks after the opening of border crossing points) during which citizens of South Ossetia will be able to get the above passes.

Let us remind you that from January 11, the border of South-Ossetian-Georgian border is closed "to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus."

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 4, 2019 at 05:34 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.