YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenia’s Transport Minister Ashot Hakobian on Monday rushed to Georgia’s sole border crossing with Russia where hundreds of Armenian cars and commercial trucks were stranded due to a severe bottleneck.

Long lines of vehicles and frustrated travelers reportedly formed at the weekend on the Russian and Georgian highways leading to the Upper Lars crossing.

“There are again problems at Lars, on both the Russian and Georgian sides,” one of Hakobian’s deputies, Armen Pambukhchian, wrote on his Facebook page late on Sunday. “The lines on the Russian side are 9-10 kilometers long, while there are some 200 vehicles stuck on the Georgian side. Efforts are now made to quickly solve the problem.”

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian dispatched Hakobian to Upper Lars the following morning. Pambukhchian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service that the minister will meet with relevant Georgian and Russian officials. He said a “gentleman’s agreement” has already been reached with Georgian authorities on giving priority to Armenian trucks loaded with fruits, vegetables and other perishables.

source : Massis