Thousands of Russians fleeing conscription head to Georgia

By Davit Kachkachishvili

KAZBEGI, Georgia (AA) – Russians trying to avoid military conscription are heading to Georgia in droves, causing traffic snarls on routes leading to the border.

Vehicles were backed up for miles near the city of Vladikavkaz in Russia’s North Ossetia region, which borders Georgia, while people queued up for food and hot drinks at aid points set up by volunteers near the Kazbegi border crossing.

There has been a considerable decline in the number of people trying to make the trek on foot, amid reports of curbs on such crossings due to security concerns.

Most people were in cars or buses that were also packed with suitcases and even white goods.

Earlier this week, the Georgian government said nearly 79,000 Russian nationals had entered the country since Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial military mobilization and called some 300,000 reservists to fight in Ukraine.

Opposition parties have condemned the influx and urged the government to follow the Baltic states, Poland and Finland in closing the border.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar​​​​​​​