Large Queues at the Bagratashen Checkpoint: Freight Carriers Raise Alarm

There has been an increase in the number of routes at the Upper Lars checkpoint, but the problems faced by Armenian freight carriers remain unresolved. Currently, there are large queues at the Bagratashen checkpoint. Freight carriers are reporting that the throughput of the checkpoint is low, resulting in long lines of trucks on both sides of the crossing.

Government officials have stated that on June 15, 15 new routes were put into operation at the Upper Lars checkpoint, resulting in a total of 39 routes currently available, of which 12 are for freight vehicles. When asked by Aravot whether this resolves the issues faced by Armenian freight carriers, Varoujan Kolyanyan, the director of the Original Transport Group freight company, responded that there are no queues at the Upper Lars checkpoint, but there is a lack of X-ray equipment, which complicates the customs process.

“However, we currently do not have queues in Georgia, but today we have a backup at our Bagratashen checkpoint. We are doing everything possible to attribute our problems to the Russian side, to the Upper Lars checkpoint, but today Armenian carriers are waiting in line to enter the Bagratashen checkpoint. Vehicles wait for more than 12 hours before they can get through our customs. This concerns freight trucks traveling from Armenia to Georgia and heading to Russia. The situation has also worsened for perishable goods, specifically regarding the export of apricots and cherries; the process of entering Georgia from Armenia has become more complicated. This is primarily due to a tightening of inspections, but for example, Georgia allows Georgian freight carriers to enter the customs without a queue for perishable goods, complete their procedures, and exit.

Why are we not giving Armenians at the Bagratashen checkpoint that opportunity so that someone with apricots doesn’t have to stay in line for 24 hours before their customs procedures are completed and they can enter Georgia? This is the problem we are currently facing at the Bagratashen checkpoint,” he noted.

Varoujan Kolyanyan mentioned that inspections have been intensified due to a recent increase in the discovery of smuggled goods at the Upper Lars checkpoint. “Consequently, inspections on the Armenian side have been tightened, and additional checks are being conducted. Amidst these inspections, the work has slowed down, although it was not the case that things were moving quickly before, but now we are in a worse situation,” he stated.