Russia Reports Record Border Crossing, Georgia Denies
The Federal Customs Service of Russia reported a record flow of over 20,000 people crossing the Verkhny Lars border checkpoint into Georgia on August 18, but Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs denied these figures, calling them false and part of disinformation. Multiple sources confirmed no significant traffic congestion at the checkpoint.
Consensus
- The Federal Customs Service of Russia claimed that over 20,000 people crossed the Verkhny Lars border checkpoint on August 18.
- Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs denied the Russian figures, calling them false and disinformation.
- The traffic at the Verkhny Lars checkpoint in recent days did not exceed normal levels.
- No major queues or congestion were observed at the checkpoint by reporters and drivers.
- The Verkhny Lars crossing is the only land border point between Russia and Georgia.
- Traffic increases during July and August due to tourism.
Points of divergence
- The Federal Customs Service of Russia confirmed the data from Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs, stating that the statistics included both entry into and exit from Russia. — tg_echoonline_news
- On August 13, border movement was temporarily blocked due to avalanche danger, with drivers stopped near the village of Zhinvali. — vm
- The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia reported that 7,880 people entered Georgia and 8,406 people left during the same period. — tg_bbcrussian
- The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia emphasized that the 7,880 figure includes citizens of all nationalities, not only Russians. — vesti
- There were large queues at the Russian side of the border due to rumors about mobilization after the State Duma elections. — tg_moscowtimes_ru
- The Russian Customs Service plans to increase shifts at the Verkhny Lars border crossing. — tg_dwglavnoe
- At least 58,000 people crossed the Russia-Georgia land border since August 15, with over 20,000 passing through Verkhny Lars in the past 24 hours. — tg_istories_media
Coverage (7 sources)
- Traffic at Upper Lars in recent days has not exceeded normal limits — ЭХО / Новости
- Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs refutes data from Russia's Federal Customs Service about record flow of people through Upper Lars — Вечерняя Москва
- Photo and video of the day. Upper Lars — BBC News Русская служба
- Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs refutes rumors of mass entry of Russians over the past day — Вести
- In a day, more than 20 thousand people crossed the border of Russia with Georgia. Russia Customs will strengthen shifts at the border crossing Upper Lar... — DW Главное
- At least 58 thousand people crossed the land border between Russia and Georgia since August 15. More than 20 thousand of them passed through... — Важные истории
- Russians lined up at the border with Georgia amid rumors of mobilization after Duma elections — The Moscow Times