Georgian truck drivers are urging the government to intervene after Russia imposed new entry restrictions that have left many facing fines, deportation and loss of income. The drivers gathered outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 13, calling for diplomatic action to help the crisis.
The dispute started with Moscow’s decision to shorten the visa-free stay for Georgian citizens from 180 days to 90 days, a change that drivers say makes it nearly impossible to complete cross-border transport operations. Long delays at the Zemo Larsi checkpoint, often lasting up to two weeks, combined with extended customs and cargo procedures inside Russia, have pushed many drivers over the new limit.
Some drivers have already been deported or fined while others have had to suspend their work altogether. They warn that the restrictions could have broader economic repercussions for Georgia, disrupting exports of necessary goods such as wine, fruit and wheat, and giving Russian carriers an opportunity to dominate routes traditionally managed by Georgian firms.
The truckers are urging the government to open negotiations with Moscow, using the examples of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as countries that resolved similar. Without timely intervention, they warn, many Georgian transport workers could lose their livelihoods.
