Upper Lars Checkpoint to re-open today

The Upper Lars Checkpoint, closed for reconstruction about 4 years ago, is reported to re-open today, according to announcement by Russian officials.

“The Upper Lars Checkpoint will work from March 1 till November 1, at 6 a.m.-10p.m., and will work at 7 a.m.-7 p.m. from November 1 till March 1,” told journalists Russia’s Federal Security Service official for the Northern Ossetia, Sergey Dorofeev.

The agreement on the checkpoint’s opening and details of its work were reached on talks between Russian and Georgian sides with Armenian and Swiss participation. The meetings between parties were held in Armenia’s Yerevan and Georgia’s Kazbegi.

According to Sergey Dorofeev, the Upper Lars Checkpoint’s reconstruction was implemented within the framework of the “Russia’s borders” Federal Programme. The construction works were mainly completed by April 2009. The checkpoint is equipped with all control services in accordance with the state border crossing rules.

Only cars can pass through the checkpoint; passage for civilians is prohibited. There is no any easy regime provided for those who live in the adjoining to the border Russian and Georgian territories.

Those who intend to pass the Upper Lars – Kazbegi checkpoint should apply for visa to Swiss Embassy in Tbilisi and Moscow, as Switzerland acts as mediator in the process.

It’s worth mentioning that Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan has paid a two-day visit to Georgia and met there with his Georgian counterpart.