Businessman in a Stalemate: Wheat-Filled Truck Unable to Reach Yerevan from Bagratashen Customs

For the fourth consecutive day, a truck filled with wheat belonging to the "Akn Group" company is stuck at the Bagratashen customs checkpoint and is not being allowed to deliver its cargo to Yerevan. In an interview with SHAMSHYAN.com, the director of "Akn Group," Bagrat Torozian, stated, "Most of our trucks have crossed into the Republic of Armenia, but one vehicle remains at the customs. Customs employee Karen Ananyan is not allowing the truck to proceed to Yerevan. He says that we must pay our obligations to the state before we are permitted to send the truck to Yerevan." The director noted that taxes must be paid by August 20.

They have requested written and verbal justifications for the ban from the Customs Committee, but Karen Ananyan reportedly responded, "I want it this way, and I am doing it this way." The director of "Akn Group" also offered that at least the truck be sent to Yerevan for the buyer, with a promise that all payments would be made by Monday, but this request was denied.

The director expressed hope that the relevant authorities would respond to the matter and has also called on the Prime Minister for intervention to quickly resolve the issue. The Customs Committee's press service informed SHAMSHYAN.com that the wheat-loaded truck is not being permitted to cross the border because the company has outstanding tax obligations that pose risks for the economic operator's future activities. "The businessman was merely told that he needs to pay his tax obligations, after which the wheat truck would have the right to cross the customs checkpoint," the Customs Committee's press service reported.