11 Drivers Stranded Between Georgia and Russia in Neutral Zone: Clarification by the State Revenue Committee

The State Revenue Committee has reported that currently, 11 truck drivers are stranded in the neutral zone between the borders of Georgia and Russia. According to the clarification from the Russian border guard service, the drivers have unpaid administrative fines dating back up to 3 years for violations of traffic rules within the territory of the Russian Federation, of which they have been notified.

The website of the Russian border guard service states that these drivers, transporting goods to Russia, are not allowed to enter the territory of the Russian Federation.

After assessing the situation, the State Revenue Committee has proposed three solutions. Companies involved in freight transport with drivers stranded in the neutral zone can organize the transfer of goods using another driver who has transported cargo to Russia and returned. The driver stranded in the neutral zone can return to Armenia with an empty truck. However, to facilitate this, it is necessary to additionally write the names of the drivers in the international transport document (CMR) concerning the goods, so that the Georgian side permits the return of the stranded driver with the other driver's truck and the corresponding CMR, while the Russian side allows the departing driver to enter Russia with cargo.

The State Revenue Committee also urges companies involved in freight transport to check in advance with the websites of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and Judicial Inspectors to verify whether their drivers have any unpaid fines before sending them to Russia. Only after paying the fine and ensuring it has been removed can the transport be organized through these drivers.

Companies can also pre-fill the CMR documents of both trucks with the name of the other driver, so in the event of encountering an entry ban into Russia, it will be possible to simultaneously arrange for the return of the driver and the transfer of the cargo to its destination using the first proposed solution.

Should new information arise, the State Revenue Committee will provide additional updates.