VIDEO: A number of goods were classified as imports from Russia, but the labels were in Turkish

The Armenian State Revenue Committee has revealed that goods have been imported into Armenia from Georgia with false documents, misrepresenting their status as products imported from EAEU member states.

According to the statement, the Committee's employees received operational data indicating that certain companies registered in Armenia had imported goods from EAEU member states between 2020 and 2022, which were actually acquired and imported from Georgia.

It was found that an unlawful scheme had been devised and implemented by the actual owner of around a dozen companies. As a result, these companies avoided paying particularly large taxes.

The vehicle crossed the Armenian-Georgian border in an empty state, then crossed the Georgian-Russian border, returning again and crossing the Russian-Georgian border empty. A false invoice and transit declaration for the acquisition of goods from a Russian resident was prepared in Russia.

The vehicle crossed the Upper Lars border checkpoint in Russia under this declaration but did not present the false invoice and transit declaration prepared in Russia at Georgia's Kazbegi border checkpoint, entering Georgia in an empty state. Subsequently, goods were acquired in Georgia in the names of individuals and vehicle drivers, which were then loaded onto the vehicle.

The vehicle loaded with these goods crossed the Sadakhlo border checkpoint in Georgia, declaring the export from Georgia to the Republic of Armenia. However, upon reaching the Bagratashen border checkpoint in Armenia, the false invoice and transit declaration prepared in Russia were presented to the Armenian customs authority.

Having prior knowledge of the types and quantities of goods to be acquired in Georgia, the false invoice and transit declaration prepared in Russia specified the actual types and quantities of goods, while the prices were listed at several times lower than the actual costs.

In this manner, about a dozen companies imported 'Kinder Egg' candies, chewing gums, and other products from Georgia to the Republic of Armenia on 72 occasions between 2020 and 2022, with the documents indicating them as imports from Russia, an EAEU member. Preliminary calculations estimate that the state has suffered particularly large damages.