A growing number of Russian citizens traveling with young children are reportedly being denied entry into Georgia at the crucial Sarpi checkpoint on the Georgia-Turkey border. The stated reason from Georgian border guards is a surprising one: difficulty identifying children from passport photographs taken years prior, especially those of infants who have since grown. This sudden influx of rejections is causing significant distress and raising questions about the true nature of these new border controls.
The Unfolding Problem at Sarpi
The Sarpi border crossing, a vital artery for travelers moving between Turkey and Georgia, has recently become a bottleneck for Russian families. Reports from the Russian Consulate General in Trabzon confirm a surge in complaints from citizens turned away, not for lack of valid documents, but for what appears to be a unique interpretation of identification standards.
Imagine the scene: a family, perhaps with a toddler whose passport photo depicts a cherubic infant, is suddenly halted. The border guard, with a straight face, declares the child “unidentifiable.” While the logical next step might be to verify identity through other means or simply acknowledge the natural progression of growth, a rejection notice is issued instead. This has left many families stranded, their travel plans in disarray.
Expert Perspectives on a Peculiar Predicament
Sofia Defosse-Aksyutina, Director of International Projects at the immigration and visa agency “Euroresident – Easy-Visa,” offers a perspective that intertwines legal validity with the current ground realities.
“Indeed, there is such a problem where Russian children, whose external features have changed due to passports being issued some time ago, are not permitted entry. However, from the standpoint of both Russian and international legislation, children`s passports are issued for five or even ten years, and this does not constitute a violation.”
Defosse-Aksyutina further elaborated, highlighting the absurdity of expecting a child`s appearance to remain static over a decade, especially if the passport was issued in infancy. “If an infant was issued a ten-year passport, naturally, over ten years a child grows and acquires different features, but their passport is legally valid. In such cases, one might recommend obtaining a fresher passport, but that`s a reactive measure.”
Interestingly, this is not a historical norm. Defosse-Aksyutina noted, “No, this is not a widespread case, because Russian passports are generally recognized. It hasn`t been common for a border service officer to arbitrarily decide not to admit a child because they believe the photograph is outdated. This is not a widely occurring event.” This suggests a recent shift in policy or enforcement.
The Subtle Undercurrent of Geopolitics
When asked about potential political motivations behind these actions, Defosse-Aksyutina’s response was telling.
“Of course, currently, some countries do not even accept five-year passports, leading to such problems with child entry. I think this also has a political undertone, because throughout the world, children, even if they don`t receive ten-year passports, certainly receive five-year ones, and birth certificates worldwide do not include photographs. There are also identity cards, but again, these are rarely issued for small children. For international travel, a foreign passport is issued.”
This statement hints at the broader context of strained international relations, where seemingly technical issues can often mask deeper political sentiments. The idea that a sovereign nation would enforce a subjective and legally questionable identification standard, especially when biometric data is present in some passports (though often not for children under 12), certainly raises eyebrows. It feels less like a genuine concern for identification and more like a convenient pretext.
Advice for Future Travelers
In light of these developments, the Russian Consulate General in Trabzon has issued practical, albeit temporary, advice. While a new passport for a child can be obtained at Russian diplomatic missions, the process typically takes about two weeks. Consequently, diplomats are “strongly recommending, where possible, to temporarily refrain from traveling with children through this specific checkpoint to avoid problems and delays.”
This situation underscores the unpredictable nature of international travel in an ever-shifting geopolitical landscape. What appears to be a bureaucratic hiccup over a child`s growing face might, in reality, be a nuanced reflection of current relations, leaving families to navigate the murky waters of border policies that can change as quickly as a child`s smile.
