The key facts
- From 19:00 on November 8, the Georgian Military Highway is closed to heavy goods vehicles
- According to regional media, more than 600 trucks were waiting in the queue
- Rosgranstroy did not name a timeline for lifting the restrictions
Restrictions on the only land route
Traffic of heavy goods vehicles through the Verkhny Lars checkpoint on the Russia–Georgia border has been temporarily suspended from 19:00 on November 8. The announcement was made by the press service of FGKU Rosgranstroy:
What is known about the situation
The Georgian Military Highway connects Vladikavkaz and Tbilisi and is the only operating land route between Russia and Georgia; it is also used for road links with Armenia. According to regional media reports, by November 8 more than 600 heavy trucks had already piled up at the border waiting to cross. The agency did not give exact dates for lifting the restrictions. In the cold season, traffic on the mountain road is often restricted due to snowfalls, black ice and the danger of avalanches. Earlier, Life.ru reported that Russian citizens found themselves stranded at the border due to a heavy snowstorm: at that time, freight traffic was also temporarily closed, and drivers spoke of multi-kilometre traffic jams and long waits at passport control. For drivers heading to Georgia and Armenia, the restriction means having to allow time for a delay or choosing alternative routes — there are no other land options between the countries.
