The opening of the Upper Lars checkpoint is against Georgia's interests and a threat to national security, a Georgian opposition leader has said.
The leader of the United Opposition of Georgia, Goga Khaindrava, said yesterday that Georgia derived no economic benefit from the opening of the checkpoint.
'Citizens of Georgia cannot get to Russia because of the practical impossibility of obtaining Russian visas, not to mention the transport links between the two countries via Upper Lars. It is simply absurd. Georgia does not win from opening this point,' he said.
He said that if Russia really wanted to show good will in relations with Georgia, it could do this through the resumption of regular flights between the two countries.
'I do not understand how people who curse each other and call each other occupiers can negotiate, I mean Georgian President Saakashvili and the Russian authorities,' Khaindrava said. He went on to answer his own question, 'Everything is simple, Saakashvili is the guardian of the interests of Russia and Armenia, which, in fact, is the same thing. Indulging the interests of Armenia, he spoiled relations with a strategic ally of Georgia, Azerbaijan, just as with Ukraine.'
Khaindrava then contradicted himself, saying that Saakashvili's biggest mistake was the deterioration of relations between Georgia and Russia.
He said that the opening of the checkpoint was caused by Armenia's economic interests and Russia's military-strategic objectives.
The Upper Lars - Kazbegi border crossing, Georgia's only direct land link with Russia, was reopened on 1 March. It had been closed by Russia in 2006.