Georgian authorities evacuate staff at Russia border checkpoint following safety alert

Employees of the Georgian Patrol Police, Customs Service, Border Police, and private companies stationed at the Dariali checkpoint on the Georgia-Russia border have been temporarily evacuated.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported on Thursday that the evacuation followed a protocol-mandated response to a signal received at 08:36 from a measuring detector in Devdoraki river. This detector alerts authorities to even minimal increases in current levels in the riverbed.

The Ministry also stated that personnel from the National Environmental Protection Agency and geologists are currently inspecting the area using a border police helicopter. As a precautionary measure, the road near the village of Gveleti has been closed, the body said.