ArmInfo. Andrey Golubchik, Associate Professor at the Russia's Foreign Trade Academy, expert in freight activity, believes that restoration of the Georgian Military Road is very difficult, costly, and nearly impossible.
In his words, the motorway via South Ossetia is possible after the probable obstacles from the local authorities are settled through negotiations. He suggests providing Georgian cars with a separate corridor, which they cannot drive out, according to Business Georgia. Golubchik believes that the South Ossetian leadership should think of the benefits of such road, as on highways shops, cafes and other service points give an opportunity to the local population to earn their living. In addition, he said, this will bring tax revenues to the local budget. In his words, the road via Tskhinvali needs repair, but the Georgian Military Road is simply non-operating.
Andrey Areshev, expert in South Caucasus, is skeptical about the opening the motorway via Tskhinvali because of political reasons. Nevertheless, alternative communications linking Armenia and Russia should be considered. The expert agrees that the traffic is complicated via the Georgian Military Road because of permanent landslides. The opening of the motorway via Tskhinvali is not impossible, but there are certain concerns connected with the Middle East conflict. "The so-called Caucasian corridor for the trans-boundary terrorism from Syria via Turkey and Georgia arouses concern. There is an acute deficit of the Russian - Georgian security dialogue, which is repeatedly mentioned by experts, politicians,
representatives of the state agencies in both Moscow and Tbilisi. A partial opening of the communications dividing Georgia and South Ossetia could give an impetus for settling the security problems so pressing for both Moscow and Tbilisi," the expert said.
To recall, Armenia's Minister of Transport and Communication Gagik Beglaryan stated yesterday that Armenia is holding negotiations with Georgia and Russia aimed at opening an alternative road to Russia through the territory of South Ossetia, "As of today, there is an opportunity to open a road through the territory of South Ossetia.
The road is in good condition", the Minister informed, noting that the negotiations are held simultaneously both with Tbilisi and Moscow as "in this case it depends very little on Armenia", he noted.
To recall, on June 23 Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Lars road was closed because of debris flow. The only overland road linking Armenia to Russia lies through the Upper Lars checkpoint on the Russian-Georgian border.