According to the survey conducted by Georgian Kviris Palitra weekly, 44.6% of Georgians out of 404 000 strongly oppose the opening of Upper Lars checkpoint on Russian-Georgian border.

Only 15.8% of the respondents reckon the checkpoint should open, other 39.6% could not respond unambiguously.

The talks on checkpoint opening between Russia and Georgia are held under Swiss and Armenian mediation. Experts forecast that the process will be supposedly completed by this year end.

Georgia welcomed the statement by Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin on opening of “Upper Lars” checkpoint. However, Georgian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nino Kalandadze stated at the briefing, “If Karasin is serious about Russia’s positive attitude in opening of Upper Lars checkpoint, Georgian side welcomes it and esteems positively”.