Approximately $1.18 Million Transferred to Azerbaijan's State Budget from Customs Duties on Goris-Kapan Road

Approximately 2 million manats, or about $1.18 million, has been transferred to Azerbaijan's state budget as a result of customs duties collected on the section of the Goris-Kapan highway under Azerbaijan's control. This was announced by Safar Mehdiyev, the chairman of Azerbaijan's State Customs Committee.

“The relevant customs checkpoint was established about two months ago. Foreign vehicles and citizens pass through the checkpoint, registering and paying customs duties to enter Azerbaijan, just as they would at other control-border checkpoints when crossing the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” Mehdiyev stated, according to the APA news agency.

Regarding whether the Armenian side will take similar measures, the Azerbaijani official found it difficult to comment. “They will decide what they will do when our vehicles enter their side,” said Safar Mehdiyev.

Since September 12 of this year, after the 44-day war, Azerbaijani police have been inspecting the documents of drivers and cargoes of trucks with Iranian license plates on the section of the interstate Goris-Kapan road that came under Azerbaijani control. Subsequently, Azerbaijani officials began demanding money from the drivers as well. Nevertheless, as of November 10, Armenian citizens were still able to use the road with the escort of officers from the National Security Service (NSS). After November 11, NSS border guards prohibited vehicles with Armenian license plates from traveling this route as the Azerbaijani side had set up customs checkpoints in the area.

The Armenian side has also announced its intention to establish points conducting customs and border control functions in that section of the road.