Georgia debunks reports of 20,000 Russians crossing Upper Lars in 24 hours UPDATED

Georgia’s Interior Ministry has denied reports that 20,000 Russian citizens crossed the Upper Lars checkpoint within 24 hours.

According to the ministry, 7,880 citizens of various countries entered Georgia through the checkpoint over the past 24 hours, while 8,406 people left the country.

“We call on all interested parties to refrain from spreading unverified information, as well as from misinterpreting or distorting various data,” the ministry said in a statement.

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More than 20,000 people crossed the Russia-Georgia border through the Upper Lars checkpoint within 24 hours, Russia’s Federal Customs Service said on August 18.

The agency noted that traffic has remained unusually heavy for several days. More than 19,000 people passed through the checkpoint each day on August 15 and 16.

According to the Federal Customs Service, the current figures are significantly higher than those recorded during the same periods in previous years.

Russian Telegram channels have also reported major vehicle congestion at the border. Witnesses said cars were moving forward by only about 100 meters every two hours. On August 13, Russia and Georgia temporarily closed the land section of the border due to a river overflow.

Upper Lars is the only operational land border crossing between Russia and Georgia. In September 2022, following Russia’s announcement of partial mobilisation, the checkpoint also saw a sharp increase in the number of people leaving the country, resulting in traffic jams stretching for several kilometres.

By Jeyhun Aghazada