Georgia and Russia reopen border crossing

Georgia and Russia have reopened their only border crossing more than three years after it was closed.

Russia closed the checkpoint in the Caucasus mountains in 2006, saying reconstruction was needed. The closure occurred during growing tension between the countries.

That tension exploded into war in 2008, after which Russia recognised two Georgian separatist regions as independent. There are crossings between those regions and Russia, but the regions are effectively off-limits to the rest of Georgia.

Georgian officials said its checkpoint opened early today and Russian news agencies reported that the Russian side opened later. But the agencies said no traffic passed through.

Russia and Georgia broke diplomatic relations after the 2008 war, making visas difficult to obtain.