Azerbaijan extends quarantine regime, keeping Georgian-Azerbaijani land border closed

The Azerbaijani government has announced an extension of the “special quarantine regime” initially imposed in March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The restrictions include the continued closure of the Georgian-Azerbaijani land border, limiting travel between the two countries to air routes only.

The decision, signed by Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov on Friday, will keep the quarantine measures in place until at least August 1, 2024. This ongoing closure has prompted calls from Georgian citizens, including ethnic Azerbaijanis, for the reopening of the land border.

The economic impact of the restrictions has been significant for Georgia. According to a March 2024 estimate from the Georgian Ministry of Economy, the closed border resulted in a loss of 1.5 million tourists and $400 million in revenue.