Russia Reports Record Border Crossing, Georgia Denies
Upper Lars: The Federal Customs Service of Russia reported a record crossing at the Upper Lars checkpoint: according to their data, approximately 20,000 people crossed the Russian-Georgian border on August 18 alone, and 58,000 since August 15.
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 (8 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
- In Georgia, data on 20 thousand Russians entering the country in a day were refuted — Москва 24