After having all direct transport links closed between these two countries for the last couple of years, things are starting to slowly inch forwards. Despite the ongoing political clashes and battle of wills about Abkhazia and South Ossetia, direct flights have resumed, and horror of horrors, they are even thinking of re-opening the solitary border crossing.

Talk is it will be open before the end of 2008.

RIA Novosti - Russia - Russia, Georgia to reopen border checkpoint by late 2008

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Hmmm, would that be the Russian border opening to Georgia? Or rather the Russian Border opening to Ossetia? What I understood is that the Russia more or less opened its borders for Ossetians a few weeks back, and that this was perceived as hostile by Georgia.

Stays a very interesting region...

I am not so confident of "borders opening":-
BBC NEWS | Europe | Russia warned over Georgia move

Yes, it is an interesting region, but Russia has openly stated that they aim to use the recent unilateral declaration of indepence by Kosovo (which was illegal in international law according to them and many international lawyers) as a reason to support all those regions of Georgia that are seeking their own indepence.

This is why, for instance, Spain will not recognise Kosovo as independant: to do so could encourage the Basque and Catalan separatists in their claims.

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Dave

Its the border to the sovereign part of Georgia. There are two more borders to unofficial Goergia ... one to South Ossetia and one to Abkhazia ... but they are not recognised border crossings by the Georgian Government ... which has no control in those areas anyway.

Its worth bearing in mind whats in it for the Russians. Armenia is one of Russia's big allies in the Region, and its the Armenians pushing the Georgians and the Russians to re-open the border. Armenia is hemmed in by Turkey on the South and West ... a country it has hated for almost 100 years and with who there is no border crossing points. Azerbaijan to the East, a country it has been fighting on and off since independence in 1991 and Georgia to the North (between Armenia and Russia), with whom it enjoys normal civil relations with. So Armenians can only access the outside world via Georgia or by Air. If the Georgian / Russian border is closed (as it has been in recent years) Armenians are hemmed in to just Armenia and Georgia, and themselves cant get to their ally and trading partner Russia. Thus the Armenians have been urging the Russians to re-open the border with Georgia.

If the Russians accept opening the border, its not them doing any favours to Georgia ... its doing a favour to Armenia

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Armenia has also had friendly relations with Iran, its southern neighbour since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, therefore it has been able to access the outside world through Iran too.

Keep in mind, however, that the situation Armenia is in now, is not of its own doing. It really hasn't had friendly neighbours for many centuries!!!

There are new on the subject; still closed?

According to this (Beyond clouds - through Russia to Georgia - ADVrider) it looks to be open...


Casper

Hi Casper
If you read the report you will find they are from Estonia which was a part of old Soviet Republic, seems lots of these borders are open to CIS persons.
would be nice to read a report from a none CIS person who had crossed this way in the last few months from Georgia to Russia.

Eric

Hi Eric,

I know, it's kind of a gamble to go the whole way without being 100% sure that it's open for non CIS persons. I heard rumors that someone might try it in July, but until that person commit to it I'll not mention names.

Casper

Hi,
Have a look at this tread:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2122018&start=15
According "soviettruck" the border is open to foreigners.
But then again no info from someone non CIS actually crossing........
Cheers

Wolsly

There will be riders from the UK trying this Boarder crossing in Late May. Fingers crossed .

Up dates will be posted ASAP.

Dazzer

Good News Dazzer, i hope its open when you get there!!
We will be heading that way August, we still want to ride the Georgia Military Highway border open or closed, just means a ride back to Trabzon if closed.

Eric

There is "no foreigner" known, passed this border yet.

It is chaotic and I am not sure if it will be open clearly.
Better not to trust information but wait and see.

Somebody who are near can give a try on the way and we can have info about it.

I asked to many people in Georgia but couldn't get a satisfactory answer yet.

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"where the traveller goes, nobody knows ! "

if they travelled on Estonian passports (EU passports), then they are non CIS. The three baltic states are not part of the CIS. Which is good news for you Dazzer.

It is, however, possible that they had dual nationality - Estonian and Russian passports - since about 30% of Estonia is Russian. If they had (and used) Russian passports, then its not much good news to us foreigners.

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I was there in May 2010. No luck to cross border. Only CIS citizens with special visa from moscow and one exception - Austria citizens also can cross border cause Austria mediate between Russia & Georgia.
Nothing has changed still since then. I am from Lithuania(Baltics, EU).

I hear from the locals about many unsuccessful tries to cross this border. There is no normal way from south Russia on bike...