Russian-controlled de facto Tskhinvali closes checkpoints ahead of Georgia’s elections to “curb threats from pro-Western forces”

The Russian-controlled de facto authorities in the Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region of Georgia have announced the closure of the Razdakhani and Perevi checkpoints in anticipation of Georgia’s parliamentary elections on October 26.

The decision was made during an operational meeting of the de facto Security Council this week, led by de facto President Alan Gagloev.
The press office of the self-proclaimed president said the closure aimed to “ensure the safety of the population of South Ossetia” and to mitigate potential provocations from “pro-Western and radical national forces” in Georgia.

Gagloev expressed concerns over “external influences”, asserting that Western special services and embassies “may attempt to destabilize the situation during the electoral period”.

He warned, “based on the information received, including from open sources, we foresee a complicated situation.”

The residents of the Akhalgori and Java districts currently under Russian control were able to cross the checkpoints from the 20th to the 30th of each month.