In near future, entrance to Leningor District, South Ossetia, will be paid

The migratory service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of the Republic of South Ossetia (RSO) is preparing to introduce dues for crossing the Georgian-Ossetian border for foreign citizens. Militia Colonel Soslan Tigiev, head of the migratory control of the MIA of the RSO, told about it to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"The migratory service of the republic's MIA is notifying the residents of the Leningor District of South Ossetia, who are crossing the state border, about introduction of a one-month deadline for receiving passports of citizens of the RSO. After the deadline, those without local passports will be recognized as foreign citizens," Mr Tigiev explained.

Persons with Georgian passports will be regarded foreign citizens at the entrance to the Leningor District and will have to pay 320 roubles (about 10 US dollars, - editor's note) of state due under Article 14 of the law "On State Dues in the RSO".

According to residents of the Leningor District, who are engaged in trade, entrance to Georgia with new South-Ossetian passports will be forbidden.

"I'm a shop owner, and I have to go to Gori to buy goods on a regular basis. I'm away from politics, but all the steps taken by leaders of both countries are telling on ordinary citizens," said Ira Charaeva, a resident of Leningor.

Let us note here that there are also other moods among local residents.

"I'm an Ossetian by nationality. Twenty years ago they imposed on us surnames ending with 'shvili' and 'dze', as well as Georgian passports. Otherwise, you had no future: no normal employment and no chance to study. Now, everything has changed. Why if I'm an Ossetian and live in Ossetia should I bear a Georgian passport in my pocket? I'll change it," said Sandro Margiev, 65, a local pensioner.