Comment by the Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia on the movement restrictions for the citizens of Armenia and cargo transport through the territory of Georgia
17 March, 2020
We would like to inform that according to the arrangement reached between the Governments of Armenia and Georgia the cargo transportation between the two countries continues without any restrictions.
Recently, the Foreign Ministry of Armenia, diplomatic representations of Armenia in the Russian Federation and in Georgia have repeatedly announced that due to unfavorable weather conditions the Gudauri-Kobi section of the Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi highway remains closed.
At the same time it was announced that the entry of citizens of the Republic of Armenia to Georgia via all roads is restricted (at the Armenian-Georgian, Russian-Georgian, Turkish-Georgian borders and also by air and sea routes).
We inform that there are concentrations of cargo transports in surrounding areas of both Armenian-Georgian (Bagratashen-Sadakhlo) and Russian-Georgian (Upper Larsi-Kazbegi) borders as well as on different sections of Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Larsi highway.
Additionally, the movement of cargo trucks heading to Russia or from Russia to Armenia through the Upper Lars and Armenian-Georgian border line is currently suspended only because of the heavy snow. As soon as the road opens, cargo trucks will be able to cross the Armenian-Georgian as well as the Russian-Georgian border.
Despite our urges, some citizens of the Republic of Armenia are currently at the Russian section of the Upper Lars checkpoint wishing to cross the Russian-Georgian border. Taking into consideration that, due to unfavorable weather conditions the road will not be opened before the decision of the Government of Georgia on prohibition of foreigners’ entry to Georgia enters into force (on 18.03.2020 12:00 a.m.), we urge our citizens to return to the place of departure and consider flight options to Armenia, particularly from the airports of Min-Vody, Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don cities.
Once again we urge our citizens to refrain from returning to Armenia through the territory of Georgia and travel by air exclusively. We call our citizens to realistically assess the situation.