MOSCOW, 9 March. /TASS/. The capacity of the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint on the border with Georgia has increased five times during the year – up to 871 trucks per day. This was reported to TASS by the Federal Customs Service (FCS) of Russia.
“The most difficult situation is observed at the Upper Lars checkpoint. Its design capacity is 170 heavy trucks per day, but the measures taken, including the opening of new lanes, have increased it five times. In fact, since the beginning of 2022, on average, 871 trucks cross this border crossing daily, and at the peak – 1,135,” the ministry’s press service said.
At the same time, in general, the throughput capacity of checkpoints in the North Caucasus in 2022 was increased by 200 units daily. To this end, the Federal Customs Service has transferred part of its employees to the busiest areas, and several customs authorities are working around the clock.
“In addition, significant work has been done on the introduction and development of information technologies for the transition to electronic transit and the use of electronic navigation seals. 99.9% of transit declarations are now issued in electronic form. All these measures help to accelerate the movement of goods through checkpoints,” added in the department.
About the current situation
The Georgian Military Highway leads from Vladikavkaz to Tbilisi through the Main Caucasian Range, connecting Russia with Georgia and the rest of the Transcaucasian countries. Kazbegi – “Upper Lars” – the only operating checkpoint on the Georgian-Russian border. On the Russian section, the route passes through North Ossetia. In winter, the road is often closed due to bad weather. Freight traffic in this direction began to grow after the start of sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation in February 2022.
Thousands of people protested in Tbilisi on March 7 and 8 after parliament passed the Georgian version of the draft law on agents of foreign influence in the first reading. Both rallies ended in the dead of night with dispersal by security forces using water cannons and tear gas. After unrest in the capital on the morning of March 9, the ruling Georgian Dream party decided to withdraw the bill from parliament.
Earlier on website The North Caucasus Customs Administration reported a cluster of more than 300 trucks in front of the Upper Lars checkpoint on the border with Georgia. At the same time, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for North Ossetia told TASS that more than 1.5 thousand trucks are waiting for departure on the territory of the republic, which are moving according to the electronic queue. There is a parking area for drivers.
