Russia-Georgia border crossing blocked by protest

Moscow, Jan 8: About 60 trucks from ex-Soviet Georgia wereblocking a border crossing into Russia in protest at Moscow turningaway their cargo of oranges.

Georgia traditionally supplies oranges to Russian consumers forthe New Year holiday but a dispute has led Moscow to ban imports of thefruit from Georgia on the grounds that they do not meet food safetystandards.

Russian police and border guards at the crossing, in thesnow-covered Caucasus mountains, have said the protest, now in itsthird day, must stop. yesterday they were reinforced with extra troopsand armoured vehicles.

Russian television showed a long line of trucks laden with orangesbacked up along a narrow alpine pass. Some hauliers had thrown thefruit into the snow because it had become rotten.

Russia has severed air links with Georgia, banned imports ofGeorgian wine, mineral water and citrus fruit and deported hundreds ofGeorgians living on its soil.

Georgia's leadership says the Kremlin is using the sanctions topunish their country for pulling out of Russia's orbit and seekingmembership of NATO and the European Union.

Moscow denies there is any political motive for the restrictions,though Kremlin officials accuse Tbilisi of being an unfriendlyneighbour.

Reuters>