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Kremlin crackdown on run to the border

Russia has restricted entry into its border region with Georgia after more than 115,000 men fled to the former Soviet state to escape the Kremlin’s mobilisation drive. Officials in the Russian region of North Ossetia, which borders Georgia, ordered a restriction on car travel to the republic yesterday. Sergei Menyaylo, head of the region, has put it on high alert. As many as 10,000 Russians have entered Georgia every day since Vladimir Putin’s declaration of ‘‘partial mobilisation’’ a week ago, Georgia’s interior ministry said. Unlike other border states Georgia has no visa requirements for Russian citizens. Fears that Russia would close its borders have yet to materialise but it has already sought to stem the flow by setting up a draft office at Verkhny Lars, the only operational crossing point with Georgia.

WORLD

en-nz

2022-09-30T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-09-30T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281840057546336

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