Georgia Denies Reports of Mass Entry of Russians

Traffic across the Russia–Georgia border rose sharply in mid-August, with tens of thousands of passengers passing through the Upper Lars checkpoint for several consecutive days. Amid the record pressure, reports of a large influx of arrivals spread in the media and on social networks, reviving memories of the mass relocation seen in 2022.

Upper Lars Sets Records: Russian Data

Russia’s North Caucasus Customs Administration reported on August 18, 2026, that passenger traffic through the Upper Lars road border checkpoint had reached a record high. More than 20,000 people crossed the border in a single day. A record number of passenger cars was also registered.

The heavy traffic has persisted for several days. On August 15 and 16, more than 19,000 people passed through Upper Lars each day. The authorities noted that these figures significantly exceeded those recorded during comparable periods in previous years.

To increase the checkpoint’s capacity, Russian customs and border services reinforced their shifts and deployed additional personnel. Travelers were warned about possible increases in journey times and advised to take road conditions into account when planning trips to and from Georgia.

Georgian Interior Ministry Data on Border Crossings

On August 19, Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs denied reports circulating in the media and on social networks that 20,000 Russian citizens had entered the country through the Lars checkpoint over the previous 24 hours. The ministry said the information was false.

According to official data, 7,880 citizens of various countries entered Georgia through Lars over the previous 24 hours. During the same period, 8,406 people left the country through the checkpoint.

The Interior Ministry stressed that figures published by a number of sources had been misinterpreted and called on the public to refrain from spreading unverified information and distorted statistical data.

Mass Relocation of Russians to Georgia

Reports that 20,000 Russians had entered Georgia in a single day attracted particular attention because of the events of 2022, when the country faced a large-scale relocation of Russian citizens. The first major wave occurred in the spring and summer. A second followed Russia’s announcement of partial mobilization on September 21. The exact number of Russians who moved to Georgia is difficult to estimate because of intensive cross-border movement and the subsequent departure of some of the relocants. According to an estimate by Georgia’s Interior Ministry, around 112,000 Russian citizens had arrived and remained in the country during the first nine months of 2022 alone.

A study by the Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS), published in May 2023, showed that Russian relocants in Georgia were predominantly young and well educated. Their average age was 32.6, many came from major Russian cities and worked in the IT sector.

Consequences of Relocation to Georgia

The mass relocation had a noticeable impact on Georgia’s economy and housing market. New arrivals rented apartments, spent money in the country and opened companies, shops, cafés and restaurants. The inflow of money supported economic activity, but at the same time increased demand for housing and contributed to a sharp rise in rental prices.

The influx of Russians was also accompanied by social tensions. In Georgia, the events of 2022 were viewed in the context of the August 2008 war with Russia and the continuing disputes over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Against this backdrop, part of Georgian society and opposition politicians viewed large-scale migration not only as an economic factor but also as a potential security risk.

Opposition representatives proposed tightening entry rules for Russian citizens, including the introduction of short-term visas. Salome Zourabichvili, who was serving as Georgia’s president at the time, also criticized the absence of additional restrictions. The authorities, by contrast, emphasized the economic benefits of the influx of new residents and did not introduce significant entry restrictions.

What Is Happening on the Russia–Georgia Border

International Investment analysts note that Russia’s North Caucasus Customs Administration reported record passenger traffic through Upper Lars but did not specify the direction of travel, the citizenship of passengers or other details. The absence of such a breakdown may have contributed to the misunderstanding.

At the same time, there are reasons for heightened attention to the situation. Concerns remain in Russia over a possible mobilization after the autumn State Duma elections, although no such plans have been officially confirmed. An increase in the number of Russian citizens has already been recorded in neighboring Armenia, which may indicate growing interest in South Caucasus destinations.

If concerns about mobilization intensify, Georgia could once again become one of the most attractive destinations for those seeking to avoid military service, as well as for their relatives and close family members. Visa-free entry, the land border with Russia and the environment for Russian relocants that has developed since 2022 all make the country accessible. Previous waves of relocation have shown that traffic through Upper Lars can increase very rapidly when a significant trigger emerges.