EU urges to open checkpoints on South-Ossetian-Georgian border

South-Ossetian villagers cannot visit their relatives in Georgia, as well as receive pensions and proper medical care. This was stated by the European Union (EU) in its call on the authorities of South Ossetia and Russia to reopen the checkpoints on the Georgian border.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in September 2019, the situation on the Georgia-South Ossetia demarcation line aggravated after Georgian militaries set up a checkpoint near the village of Tsnelis. Then, South Ossetia closed the checkpoints on the Georgian border, claiming "tension escalation" by Georgia.

"In the past two years, the ethnic Georgians living in the Akhalgori District were unable to cross the border and visit their relatives, as well as receive education in their mother tongue. Access to medical care is also difficult; and there are reports of shortages of foodstuffs and medicines," the website of the EU Delegation to Georgia has stated.

The EU has welcomed the easing of restrictions that allowed residents of the Akhalgori District to cross the border for medical treatment in Georgian clinics, but called for "greater freedom of travel."

Let us note here that on September 4, the South-Ossetian party installed a warning sign near the village of Khurvaleti in the Gori District of Georgia. The Georgian State Security Service (SSS) has treated it as an illegal act that complicates the daily life of the local population, and blamed Russia for this act.