The Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, responsible for customs control at the border, announced its checkpoints to have changed the operating mode to a special regime due to a significant increase in traffic flow.

On Monday, the department announced an increase in the number of customs officers at all border checkpoints open 24 hours a day. They also note that the Georgian side is in contact with their Turkish, Azerbaijani, and Armenian colleagues to prevent problems with the cross-border movement of goods, as "Novosti-Georgia" reports.

Last week, the customs officials stated that nothing extraordinary was happening at the border.

Since President Vladimir Putin announced partial mobilization in Russia, the real extent of which is unknown, giant queues of Russians fleeing the country have been formed at the Georgian border and many other Russia's neighbours.

On Sunday, the queue at the Russian-Georgian border reached 20 kilometers - all the way to Vladikavkaz. There were reports of people trying to walk through the traffic jam with children and suitcases, crossing the border on bicycles and scooters. The estimated time of passing control is two days.

Over the weekend, an opposition MP said on TV that she had insider information about Tbilisi's plans to close the border to Russians from Monday partially, but these rumors were not officially confirmed.

Since March, the opposition and some public organizations have been demanding restrictions on the entry of Russians into the country, their purchase of real estate in Georgia, etc. The ruling party accused the opponents of launching a "shameful xenophobic-chauvinist campaign" against citizens of the Russian Federation.