De facto Tskhinvali opens crossing point to occupied Akhalgori for the 1st time since 2019

De facto authorities of Georgia’s Russian-controlled Tskhinvali region have allowed the opening of a crossing point to Akhalgori district for Easter for the first time since September 5, 2019. 

Only those holding special passes or “passports of South Ossetia” (Tskhinvali) will be allowed to leave the district including April 25, a local official said. 

The de facto authorities closed the crossing point in protest to opening a police post near the breakaway region, on the Tbilisi-controlled territory, citing “security threats” as the reason. 

The crossing point remained closed during the pandemic as well, creating a range of humanitarian problems on the ground. 

Akhalgori is mainly inhabited by ethnic Georgians and was occupied by Russian troops during the Russia-Georgia 2008 war. 

The two Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali were recognized as independent states by Russia back in 2008, after the war. 

Only Venezuela, Nikaragua, Nauru and Syria have joined Russia’s move so far, while the rest of the international community is unanimous that the regions are occupied by Russia.