Georgia’s land border with Azerbaijan remains closed until October as pandemic measures extended

The Azerbaijani authorities have extended the special quarantine regime due to the coronavirus pandemic until October 1 as Prime Minister Ali Asadov signed the relevant decree with the aim of “preventing further spread of the virus within the country and mitigating its potential consequences”. 

Since spring 2020, Azerbaijan’s land borders have remained closed. Officials in Baku emphasized that the quarantine measures will continue for as long as necessary. Currently, entry into Azerbaijan is only permitted through air travel, while foreigners and stateless individuals can depart via land routes.

Despite calls from ethnic Azerbaijanis residing in Georgia and appeals from President Salome Zourabichvili for reopening land routes to Azerbaijan, the country has not yet lifted its border closures with any neighboring states. These closures were originally implemented in 2020 to curb the spread of the coronavirus, despite the World Health Organization declaring the end of the pandemic in May 2023.