Georgia strengthening its border with Russia, fearing penetration of Chechen militants

The Georgian border guard department is opening over a dozen additional frontier checkpoints at the Chechen, Ingush and Daghestan sections of the Russian-Georgian border.

As RIA Novosti was told in the general staff of the Georgian department for the defence of the border, this decision has been caused by the necessity for checking the possible crossing of the border by Chechen militants from the Russian side.

The process of strengthening these sections of the state border will end in the middle of July. At the already existing frontier checkpoints the number of frontier guards will be increased.

The day before, Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze expressed confidence that Chechens "will not take an adventurous step" - to break through the Russian-Georgian border again. At the same time, he noted that the Georgian side is taking special measures for strengthening the northern part of the border.

In the Pankisi Gorge, there are seventeen checkpoints of the Georgian Interior Ministry troops, and the number of frontier guards have been increased. The elite units of the Defence Ministry have also been lifted there.

As Eduard Shevardnadze believes, "Chechens will not risk breaking through the border, and if they do it - we are ready."