Georgia closes land border with Russia amid avalanche risk

The land border between Georgia and Russia has been fully closed due to safety concerns.

The Georgian Roads Department announced that the route through the Kazbegi checkpoint at Upper Lars is now closed to all types of vehicles, Caliber.Az reports.

Authorities cited the risk of avalanches along the Gudauri–Kobi section of the international Mtskheta–Stepantsminda–Lars highway as the reason for the closure.

The Upper Lars checkpoint is currently the only operational land route linking Armenia with Russia via Georgia.

Travellers and transport operators have been urged to avoid the route until conditions improve.

By Aghakazim Guliyev