Facebook* users commented on the situation at the border between Russia and Georgia.

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Information about the influx of Russians at the checkpoint "Verkhny Lars" has sparked mixed comments from Facebook* users. Some consider it a typical tourist rush, while others believe that Russians are moving en masse to Georgia. In the event of mobilization, those liable for military service may face a travel ban.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", members of the opposition party "United National Movement" held a briefing at the checkpoint "Verkhny Lars", stating that the Georgian authorities are pursuing a policy to increase the number of tourists and relocators from Russia. The "Georgian Dream" accused the opposition of inciting hatred, explaining the large flow of people through "Verkhny Lars" as the peak of the tourist season. On August 19, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia denied reports of a mass entry of Russians through "Verkhny Lars", indicating that just over 16,000 residents of various countries passed through the checkpoint in both directions in one day.

Social media users have stopped distinguishing between tourists and relocators

Two posts about statements from Georgian politicians regarding the increased traffic at "Verkhny Lars" garnered over 160 comments on the "Caucasian Knot" Facebook* page.

In the discussion of the publication, several topics intertwine: attitudes towards the influx of Russian tourists and relocators, the impact of migration on the real estate market and demographic situation, as well as political disagreements surrounding Georgia's relations with Russia. Some participants call for not exaggerating the scale of what is happening and link the increase in the number of people at the border to the seasonal tourist flow.

Some participants believe that the increased attention to the number of arrivals is primarily related to the summer season.

"Well, it’s the season now. By autumn, everything will be as usual. It’s like this every year," believes Slavik Labenko.

Users point out that not only citizens of Russia are crossing the border.

"Don’t forget that representatives from about 30 countries are entering Georgia through Lars. And don’t stir up silly panic," wrote Dmitry Tikhov.

Other commentators suggest considering the tourist nature of the trips.

"Every summer, tens of thousands of tourists go to Georgia; it’s the resort season now! And it’s not a fact that all those who entered will stay in Georgia," noted Saro Bagromyan.

"Tourists don’t bother us," stated Oto Shvili.

"It’s the end of summer; look at the statistics, most are leaving Georgia and returning transit from Armenia," wrote Marina Lysova.

The issue of crossing the border has sparked debates about the need to tighten migration policy

A separate line of discussion concerns not tourists, but those who intend to stay in the country.

Tourists - please, but relocating to Georgia - no.

"If tourists are crossing the border, then please, welcome. But under no circumstances should we allow those who want to hide in Georgia to escape mobilization, as well as those who want to buy real estate or obtain residency or citizenship," believes Aza Gelashvili.

Some users suggest tightening migration policy

"Georgia cannot accept more foreigners. Tourists - please, but relocating to Georgia - no. Tourists are not a problem; the problem is those Russians who are trying to settle in Georgia and buy apartments and houses there. Migration laws need to be tightened right now!" wrote Teimuraz Menabdishvili.

Others argue, pointing out the difficulties of obtaining citizenship.

"Even those born in Georgia find it very difficult to obtain citizenship. And don’t write about draft dodgers," noted Olga Sh.

Even giving birth to children of Georgian citizens, from spouses of Georgian citizens, no one gives us Russians citizenship.

A similar position is expressed by another participant in the discussion, linking possible restrictions to existing rules.

"At most, permanent residency; even giving birth to children of Georgian citizens, from spouses of Georgian citizens, no one gives us Russians citizenship," wrote Anna Efremova.

In the discussion, there are suggestions to separate tourists from those who are moving for permanent residence.

Some participants, on the contrary, believe that foreign tourists and newcomers do not pose a problem in general.

"We don’t care. Let tourists enjoy themselves. They go wherever they want," wrote ბჟალავა ნინო.

The issue of acquiring real estate becomes a reason for debate about equal rules for foreigners.

"Neither Slavs, nor Arabs, nor any other foreign citizens should be allowed to buy real estate in Sakartvelo," believes Alla Lomsadze.

"We urgently need to introduce a visa regime with Russia and tighten border control," believes Manana Nazarashvili.

In response, arguments arise about the need to distinguish between attitudes towards the state and individual newcomers. "Every relocator is an unfulfilled soldier," wrote Alexander Hakimov. He further clarifies that he considers Russians who left the country due to unwillingness to participate in the SVO to be worthy of support.

Analysts commented on the likelihood of closing borders for the mobilized

The possibility of leaving Russia in the event of mobilization was commented on by the director of the human rights group "Citizen. Army. Law"** Sergey Krivenko** and a representative of the movement "Go to hell"** Ivan Chuvilyaev on August 28.

According to Sergey Krivenko**, if a person is among those liable for military service, their exit is closed. "If a person is included in the draft notice registry and has received a notice but did not appear at the military enlistment office, their exit will be restricted. The situation is specific for reservists. According to the law "On mobilization preparation and mobilization in the Russian Federation", in the event of mobilization, they are prohibited not only from leaving the country - but from leaving their locality without permission from the military enlistment office. Mobilization, as is known, was announced in September 2022 and has not formally ended yet. Formally, this restriction exists, but in practice, it does not work. However, if there is a new wave of mobilization, this restriction will resurface," he stated.

Ivan Chuvilyaev noted that the request to leave is not as popular a story as it may seem from the outside, from abroad. "Everyone who could leave left in 2022. Those who did not leave in 2022 cannot leave now. It is too heavy a task for them, very difficult and very painful," he stated.

If we talk about the existence of restrictions on exit, by law they exist.

Chuvilyaev also emphasized that when discussing these topics, it is necessary to understand that what is written in the law does not always happen in practice. "If we talk about the existence of restrictions on exit, by law they exist. The borders are like locked, and if you received a notice, you will have no chance to leave. In fact, for heaven's sake, leave as much as you can, because the communication between what is written in the unified registry of those liable for military service and what is in hand and in front of the border guard at the exit from the country is very convoluted, there is practically nothing there. In simpler terms, if a person has a notice in "Gosuslugi", they cannot leave by law because restrictions are imposed on them. In practice, these restrictions do not exist, they do not work, they do not exist, a person can leave. Out of, say, ten people, one is denied at the border, and nine leave successfully, which indicates that the border guards simply have no data on them," he added.

A Russian tourism expert, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot" that Georgia remains a country of mass Russian tourism, with most tourists preferring to get there by air. "According to the National Tourism Administration of Georgia, more than 497,500 Russian tourists visited the country from January to June. They mainly use air transport (including connecting flights through Vladikavkaz, Mineralnye Vody, and Sochi). Ground routes play a supporting role due to the "bottleneck" at the border," he stated.

Tour agencies in Krasnodar and Stavropol told the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot" that Georgia is not among the popular destinations. The travel agencies "Seli-poekhali" and "Turboss" in Stavropol stated that they had no tours to Georgia at all this year. The Krasnodar branch of the travel agency "Travelata" noted that there were few such tours. The Krasnodar branch of the travel agency "Anex-Tour" also noted that there were few tours, emphasizing that Georgia had not been a "favorite" before. A number of travel agencies did not list Georgia at all among their destinations, with Turkey and Sri Lanka dominating the top spots.

Recall that after the start of the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine in 2022, Georgia became one of the destinations for relocators from Russia leaving the country, and after the announcement of partial mobilization in Russia, the flow sharply increased. In November 2022, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili stated that after the announcement of mobilization, more than 700,000 Russians crossed the Georgian border, about 100,000 of whom remained in the country, while the rest left.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that disputes over entry conditions and attitudes towards Russian citizens arose in Georgia even after the first wave of relocation. In August 2022, the opposition party "Lelo" proposed to introduce a visa regime for Russian citizens, as well as to restrict and control their acquisition of real estate, obtaining residency, and registering businesses. The "Georgian Dream" at that time called these demands an attempt to direct aggression towards a specific ethnic group.