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Georgia and Russia reopened their only direct border crossing on Monday, more than three years after it was closed amid rising tension that erupted into war in 2008, Reuters reported.
The Verkhny Lars pass is the only land crossing linking Russia with Georgian government-controlled territory. Other routes from Russia through the Caucasus Mountains lead to the Moscow-backed rebel regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Russia closed the crossing in mid-2006 as relations with Georgia's pro-Western government soured. In August 2008, Russian forces crushed a Georgian assault on South Ossetia and drove deep into the U.S. ally's territory in a five-day war.
The new U.N Secretary General's special envoy to Georgia, Antti Turunen, said the opening was a step in the right direction.
"There are still many years ahead before you can talk about normalisation of the situation but it's a good thing if the border is opening up," he told a briefing in Helsinki.
At the Verkhny Lars crossing, checkpoints on either side opened in the early hours of the morning, but by midday no one had crossed.
Analysts said the decision to reopen it was more economic than political, and would mostly benefit traders from Russia's landlocked economic ally Armenia.
Visas will not be issued at the border crossing. Russians visiting Georgia can only receive visas at the airport, while Georgians have to apply in advance to visit Russia through the Russian interests section of the Swiss embassy in Tbilisi.
Around 60 people, mainly local residents, gathered on the Russian side to protest against the restrictions.
"I have relatives, friends in Kazbegi, and I wanted to see them," said villager Vladimir Vardashev.
Russia cut air links with Georgia over the war, and Tbilisi severed diplomatic ties when Moscow recognised the rebel territories as independent states shortly after the conflict.
Armenia was hit the hardest by the shutdown of the Georgia-Russia border, as its only overland link with Russia, Yerevan’s biggest economic partner, was through Georgia.
The reopening of the border crossing was discussed by Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian with his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili in Batumi, on Sunday, during his visit to the neighboring South Caucasus republic.
Saakashvili recalled that a considerable number of Armenians live in Georgia, saying they are his country’s full-fledged citizens. He emphasized that Georgia is a multi-national country, saying bilateral relations are at the stage of dynamic development.
"Georgia rejoices at Armenia’s success. The good relations enjoyed by the two countries are a result of efforts not only by their presidents but also the two nations."
Sarkisian, for his part, expressed hope for closer ties. "We have been fraternal nations for millennia, and this brotherhood will live on."
While in Georgia, Sarkisian also met with the local Armenian community and visited an Armenian church in Batumi.*