Two Trucks Transporting Body Armor from Russia to Armenia Returned After Month at Upper Lars

Two trucks transporting body armor from Russia to Armenia spent one month and three days at the Upper Lars checkpoint and ultimately did not progress, meaning the aid never reached its destination. The trucks were dispatched from Moscow on March 5 as humanitarian aid, and on March 28, Georgian border guards confiscated the drivers' documents, preventing them from moving forward.

In an interview with 168.am, one of the truck drivers stated, “We are going back. Write that everyone should know how idle the Georgian embassy is. When we call, they tell us that tomorrow is a non-working day in Georgia. They call themselves embassy workers. Do you know how much money has been spent during this time, and there is zero outcome?” Earlier, he had mentioned that when they arrived at the location, they were informed that laws had changed, and they could not be allowed to pass. They required permission for transporting military cargo since the shipment was considered military and needed the approval of the Georgian Ministry of Defense.

“They requested documents, we submitted them, after which they were supposed to present them for discussion to a commission and had committed to granting permission within a 15-day period. The deadline expired on April 26,” the truck driver said. The Armenian Embassy in Georgia has stated regarding the issue that work is ongoing and the matter will be resolved.