The only road link between Georgia and Russia remains closed after being washed away by flooding last week, officials have confirmed. Kazbegi-Zemo Larsi, in northern Georgia, is also the only available land link for Armenia with Russia. It passes through the Dariali gorge.
It will take “at least ten days, maximum two weeks” to restore the road, said Georgian minister of infrastructure Nodar Javakhishvili on Friday. A 800m long section was washed away by the Tergi river on June 23.
While the road link is down, cargo between Georgia and Armenia and the Russian Federation is going via Black Sea ports.
“Closure of the road [in the Dariali gorge] has created huge problems for Georgian exporters, as well as for Armenian businesses,” prime minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili told journalists, confirming talks to get the road restored more quickly had failed.
“We should be a reliable partner in order to fully make use of Georgia’s transit potential.”
SOURCE: commonspace.eu and agencies
PHOTO: The Georgia-Russia border crossing at Upper Lars
