Armenian truck drivers block traffic at all three checkpoints on the Armenian- Georgian border
YEREVAN, October 21. /ARKA/. Armenian truck drivers have obstructed traffic at all three Armenian-Georgian checkpoints at Bagratashen, Gogavan, and Bavra.
They are striving to disrupt traffic, asserting: "If Russia permits us to remain on its territory for only 90 days a year, then we will not permit any truck with foreign license plates to enter Armenia," as reported by Radio Azatutyun.
The demonstrators are insisting that the Armenian authorities honor their commitment regarding this matter and address the existing Russian limitation on the duration of stay for migrant workers in the country (no more than 90 days within a 180-day period).
This significantly impedes the operations of truck drivers from Armenia. The issue is that this limit is rapidly approaching expiration, and truck drivers are being added to the list of violators.
Earlier tomorrow, truck drivers initially organized a protest outside the government building in Yerevan and subsequently outside the Russian Embassy.
The sole land route connecting Armenia and Russia traverses Georgia along the Stepantsminda-Lars highway.
Effective January 1, 2025, citizens of visa-free nations, including Armenia, who enter Russia for non-work purposes, are allowed to stay in the Russian Federation for a maximum of 90 days per calendar year (previously, 90 days within every 180 days). This limitation is applicable to truck drivers and passenger carriers, as well as pilots, flight attendants, aircraft maintenance staff, train operators, and others.
Foreigners who breached this regulation had until September 10 to rectify their residency status in the Russian Federation and evade administrative penalties. Sanctions include a 3-year entry prohibition (for overstays of 90-180 days), a 5-year prohibition (for overstays of 180-270 days), and a 10-year prohibition (for overstays exceeding 270 days).
In the past month, heightened enforcement has been enacted by the Russian government, resulting in numerous Armenian citizen drivers being recorded on a special registry of violators.-0-
