Truckers Continue Blocking Russian-Georgian Border

Georgian truckers blocking the road into Russia on January 6 (AFP) January 9, 2006 -- Dozens of trucks loaded with tangerines from Georgia continue to block the road at the Russia-Georgia border in protest at Russia's refusal to admit their cargo.

Russia has banned imports of citrus fruit from Georgia, saying they do not meet safety standards. The order is one of a number of measures Moscow imposed against Georgia amid tensions that have been growing since September.


Some of the truckers have camped at the border since late December.


On January 8, police from the Russian Republic of North Ossetia were unable to clear the road after drivers began to lie down underneath their trucks.


("Novosti Gruziya," Interfax)

Moscow And Tbilisi

Moscow And Tbilisi

Russian military hardware being withdrawn from a Russian base in Batumi, Georgia, in August 2005 (TASS)

WHAT COMES NEXT? Although Russia is unlikely to push an aggressive military response to the current tensions with Georgia, it has a number of economic, political, and diplomatic options at its disposal. Already on October 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin summoned his inner circle to weigh Moscow's options... (more)


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