Why Huge Queues Are Accumulating at the Lars Checkpoint: Clarification from the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Sona Harutyunyan, wrote on Facebook: "Since we have received numerous calls from the media regarding the accumulation of trucks at the Upper Lars checkpoint, we find it necessary to inform that the Russian side has started construction works at the Lars checkpoint, which, according to preliminary information, are expected to be completed by December 2022. Due to the construction works, traffic at the Lars checkpoint has been partially disrupted. However, according to the Russian government's decision No. 1576 dated September 18, 2021, from October 18, in addition to Upper Lars, border control will also be allowed at two other checkpoints until the end of the construction. The first checkpoint is located in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, in the Upper Lars region. The second checkpoint is in North Ossetia-Alania, Vladikavkaz city, in the Lars region.

It should be noted that after the completion of the construction works initiated by the Russian side, it is expected to significantly improve the operation of the Lars checkpoint and avoid the accumulation of trucks. Specifically, it is planned to increase the current daily capacity from 300 vehicles to 3,500 vehicles, which means nearly a tenfold increase in road capacity," she wrote.