Traffic Congestion at Upper Lars Explained by Russian Media

The significant queues that have sporadically formed near the 'Upper Lars' checkpoint are attributed to various reasons. Recently, in addition to Armenian media, Russian outlets have also addressed the issue, noting that over a thousand trucks have created a substantial backlog. According to Russian channel Russia 1, the vehicles are moving through at a pace of only three trucks daily.

The Armenian side has pointed out that the queues at the Upper Lars checkpoint primarily consist of vehicles exiting the territory of the Russian Federation, rather than those departing. The main concern lies in the non-compliance of cargo with the established norms for axle load limits.

The Armenian Ministry of Economy is considering a systemic solution to this issue, proposing that Armenian transporters verify their cargo's compliance with axle load standards before exporting. Anna Ohanyan, the press officer, stated, 'The Ministry of Economy is in touch with our partners at the Upper Lars checkpoint, and the issue remains a priority for us.'

Later, the ministry reported that the queues forming at the Upper Lars checkpoint have gradually decreased as a result of the processes for inspecting vehicle loads. Additionally, Mikael Melkumyan, a member of the 'Prosperous Armenia' faction in the National Assembly, has also been in contact with representatives from the Upper Lars business sector, stating that the primary cause of the congestion is cargo weights exceeding the prescribed limits, which not only lead to backlogs but also incur fines.