Georgia: Russian FM Claims Border Ready to Open

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says that Russia's border with Georgia could reopen as soon as March 1.

Russia and Georgia fought a five-day war in 2008, a conflict that resulted in Russia's recognition of the independence of the separatist territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Speaking to the Golos Rossii radio station on February 24, Lavrov said that while Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili remains persona non grata in the Kremlin's eyes, Russia now sees no obstacles to opening land and air communications with Georgia. He went on to say that the next step would depend on Georgia.

On February 25, Georgian transport officials said that Lavrov's words were not being matched by Russian actions.