On September 18, 2013 will come into effect the resolution of the Government of South Ossetia, in accordance which through the checkpoints of the state border between the Republic of and Georgia will be terminated the passing of vehicles in a simplified order. As the news agency "Res" has been informed at the press service of the KGB of South Ossetia, this is a resolution №102, adopted June 18, 2013 by the Government of South Ossetia, amending the previously adopted resolutions №119 ( November 23, 2010) "On the checkpoints at the border of the Republic of South Ossetia, and the entry points at the state border of the Republic of South Ossetia", and № 26 ( February 15, 2011) "On the organization of crossing the state border of the Republic of South Ossetia with Georgia in a simplified order."
"This resolution determines the period of three months, during which at the checkpoints of a simplified crossing of the state border between the Republic of South Ossetia and Georgia will be conducted explanatory work that since September 18, 2013 passing vehicles through the simplified entry points of a state border between South Ossetia and Georgia will be terminated. Accordingly, the conveyance of goods and cargo will also be terminated. People crossing the borderline between South Ossetia and Georgia in a simplified order, will have to go on foot. A term of three months is determined to provide transportation of these people to the checkpoint "- explained the KGB representative.
He has added that through these checkpoints will be allowed to carry only personal belongings. "These personal belongings are clearly defined in the regulation, annexed to the aforesaid Resolution. One person will be allowed to carry through the border no more than 50 kg of hand luggage or goods in an amount not exceeding 65,000 rubles. The document also defines limits for certain types of goods - for example, one cannot carry more than five kg of fish, more than 250 grams of caviar, more than 10 liters of fuel, etc."- said the KGB official.
Besides, the document specifies aspects related to commercial activities.
"If the same person within a month imports into the territory the same goods, or the goods are qualified as commercial goods, they cannot be passed through the checkpoint," - said the representative of the KGB.
He has noted that the explanatory work is to be arranged at the simplified entry points of the state border of South Ossetia with Georgia- Mosabrun, Perev and Sinagur.
People will be warned that since September 18 will be terminated passing of vehicles and transport of goods.
Prior to this date, at the checkpoints will be in force the established order of crossing the border check points, according to which the border guards do not prevent the inhabitants of the border regions of the Republic, having Georgian citizenship, to go to Georgia by car and bring in the Republic of Georgia goods, declared as "hand luggage".
"For the present the system of relaxation of restrictions is in force, so that people can get used to the notion of the ''state border,'' take out and bring in their personal property," - said the official.
The thing is that in accordance with South Ossetian legislation the state border is crossed by vehicles, people and goods only through two checkpoints: one in the north, in the village of Upper Ruck, the second should be on the southern outskirts of Tskhinval, at the border with the Georgian village Ergneti.
"In the first case, we have signed an international agreement with Russia, which regulates the functioning of the international checkpoint between South Ossetia and Russia. We are not able to sign a similar agreement with Georgia because of the political stance of the Georgian authorities, who refuse to discuss any agreement on the state border with South Ossetia,"- said the KGB spokesman.
Because of this it is not possible to open in South Ossetia the normally functioning international border crossing point with Georgia, through which could pass people, transport and cargo. "Therefore, for humanitarian reasons we unilaterally opened simplified border crossing points with Georgia in certain areas to allow people to communicate with their relatives and so on, but not crossing the border by loaded vehicles. In such a case, there must have been functioning customs, health and other services, that is not provided for in the regulations of these checkpoints, "- said the official.
He has stressed that the coming into force on September 18 rules are designed to establish functioning of these checkpoints in accordance with legislation of South Ossetia.
