The only road route from Russia to Georgia lies through the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint. It operates on Georgian Military Road, 40 kilometers from the capital of North Ossetia. To pass the border post without unnecessary problems and wasting time, tourists are advised to check for changes in operating hours, as well as the weather forecast in the area. Useful information can be found from the live webcam broadcast. And also, so that crossing the border does not bring any surprises, it is better to know in advance what awaits you. We will tell you about this.
Border with Georgia 2021 (Cross Pass)
Checkpoint in Upper Lars: operating hours, weather, features of the checkpoint
- For people planning to travel to Georgia by car from Russia, the Upper Lars checkpoint is the only land border crossing.
- The checkpoint operates on the Georgian Military Road, 40 km from Vladikavkaz.
- Before passing the checkpoint, travelers will not be deprived of the opportunity to find out useful information on our website about the weather, see the data for today on an online webcam, the checkpoint operating mode, possible detours in case of closure and other information, which our article will discuss in detail.
Webcam online
To ensure that drivers can be warned about weather conditions on the road, web cameras are placed at border checkpoints. You can also use them to find out about the status of queues.
Information on the devices is updated every 10-15 minutes. It also happens that due to technical glitches they do not broadcast the filming. Correction of problems should be handled by customs officials.
The cameras on the left transmit information about the situation at the entrance to the Russian side. On the right you can see the traffic situation on the way to Georgia.
More current pictures, if any, can be seen by clicking the “Update” button. New photos are not taken more than once every 10 minutes.
Verkhniy Lars checkpoint webcam online (click)
Weather
- The checkpoint is located in a mountainous area, at an altitude of 1127 meters above sea level, and has a moderately humid climate with unpredictable weather.
- In winter, travelers get caught in blizzards and suffer from snow drifts, and sometimes avalanches from nearby peaks descend onto the Georgian military road.
- Due to frequent rains in the summer, it is very likely that there will be mud and mudflows at the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint, which will force border guards to close the road indefinitely.
For the convenience of motorists, web cameras have been installed at the border crossing, informing about the current weather situation on the road, as well as additional information about queues at the border crossing.
Useful phones
Contacts where you can contact directly the employees of the Verkhniy Lars or North Osset checkpoint. customs:
- Duty service - 8 (8672) 252-753 (VL); 8 (8672) 595-227 (COT).
- Deputy head of the post - 8 (8672) 827-523 - a single number for five deputies.
Helpline of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for North Ossetia-Alania +7 (867) 225-84-32.
Phone numbers of the North Caucasus Customs Department, where you can ask something or report about corruption and other unpleasant things on the Russian-Georgian border, if any:
- Helpline (SKTU), (SOT).
- Operational duty service (SKTU), +7 (867) 259-52-27 (SOT).
- SKTU reference phone; E-mail address
For reference: “In the 1st quarter of 2021, the defense industry complex of the North Ossetian customs received 11 citizens’ appeals to the SOT helpline (SKTU): 11 citizens’ appeals were checked, of which 2 were corruption-related, 0 were confirmed. As a result of the review, 11 no allegations of corruption, as well as other abuses on the part of officials of the North Ossetian customs have been established.”
All contact information is taken from the official website and is current as of March 2021. If you find any inaccuracies, please report them in the comments.
Internet receptions and contacts receiving complaints regarding corruption and the organization of work at the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint on the Russian side:
- Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania.
- Administration of the President of the Russian Federation.
- Investigative Committee: +7 (800) 100-12-60.
- FSB: +7 (495) 224-22-22.
- You are an eyewitness: section of the local Ministry of Internal Affairs, send your photos and videos of offenses from mobile phones;.
- Hotline of the border department of the FSB of Russia for North Ossetia-Alania: +7,
- Helpline: FCS; traffic police hotline for RSO-A.
If you are interested in the road situation on the Georgian side, you can find out about it using the following numbers:
- Department of Roads - +995322313076.
- Department of Emergency Situations - +995577556201.
- Traffic police - +995322418502.
Checkpoint procedure
Expert opinion
Alexander Beridze
Guide to Georgia. I work in tourism and love skiing.
The greatest traffic at the checkpoint occurs in the morning (from 6:00 to 10:00) and in the evening (after 18:00) through the Upper Lars checkpoint. About 50 cars pass through the checkpoint every day, but sometimes fewer pass through. To cross the border you must have a foreign passport, driver's license and vehicle registration certificate.
The procedure for driving cars from Russia is as follows:
- First, the driver approaches the barrier at the entrance to the checkpoint and receives a control pass.
- He then drives through the barrier and heads to border control, who inspect the vehicle.
- After inspecting the vehicle, the persons in the vehicle undergo passport control, during which a border crossing stamp is placed on the document.
- The next control point is customs control. To get through it, it is often necessary to unload all your belongings, luggage, and objects from the car.
After inspection, travelers have the opportunity to move on and get to Georgia.
Latest news about road conditions
Georgia plans to open its air borders to foreigners on October 1 (but not for all countries); there is no talk of opening land borders yet.
