Currently, there is the problem that some of the Armenian trucks have been sent back, and some are waiting for the results of the examination. Vahan Hakobyan, the Armenian embassy in Russia’s customs attaché at the Upper Lars checkpoint on the Georgian-Russian border, told Armenian News-NEWS.am about this.
Earlier, the media reported that the Armenian trucks were stuck in a traffic jam at the Upper Lars checkpoint. The Armenian truckers informed that the Russian customs officers at the checkpoint gave them various reasons—from weather conditions to problems with documents. The truckers, however, believe that the actual reason is the current tension in Armenian-Russian relations.
According to Vahan Hakobyan, Rosselkhoznadzor, the phytosanitary inspection agency of Russia, is carrying out enhanced inspection of trucks entering Russia at the Upper Lars checkpoint.
“Rosselkhoznadzor reported that enhanced inspection is carried out not only at the Upper Lars checkpoint, but also at other checkpoints [of Russia], and the inspection of not only Armenian trucks, but also of other trucks that are subject to phytosanitary inspection has been enhanced,” Hakobyan said.
“I, the employees of the State Revenue Committee, the Ministry of Economy of Armenia, the food inspection body of Armenia, are actively working with our colleagues to solve the problem quickly,” added Vahan Hakobyan.