Armenian Fruit Trucks Not Allowed into Russia

Hundreds of trucks with grapes, plums and peaches were not allowed into Russia at the Upper Lars checkpoint and were forced to return to Armenia. This problem is of a political nature, an opposition MP said.

Hundreds of trucks with agricultural products, which were heading to Russia through the territory of Georgia, are forced to return to Armenia, said opposition MP Garnik Danielyan.

"According to our information, hundreds of trucks with agricultural products - plums, peaches, grapes - are returning from the Upper Lars checkpoint. The carriers report that they are not given a clear explanation, they are talking about some problems related to phytosanitary conditions," RBK quoted him as saying.

The MP said that Armenian farmers are suffering significant losses.

According to Danielyan's information, drivers of some trucks are waiting for the situation at the border to be resolved, but officials have not yet explained the reasons for the return of the vehicles and have not specified whether this is related to the violation of any customs, and which side is blocking the passage.

Trucks with other goods, in particular, construction materials, are also subject to thorough checks. This makes it difficult for them to enter Russia and is an unprecedented case for this sector, the publication notes.

"Obviously, the problem is not only economic, but also has a political context," the publication on Danielyan's Facebook page* says.

A video is attached to the publication, which shows dozens of trucks lined up along the side of the road.

As "Caucasian Knot" wrote, in November 2023, the Armenian authorities demanded to convene an urgent meeting within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, since Russia refused to accept more than 30 trucks with cargo, rejecting the quality of vegetables, fruits and flowers.

* the activities of Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) are banned in Russia.