Despite the recent announcement of RA President, Robert Kocharyan and the Customs Committee of Armenia, which relates to improvement in the customs sector, our citizens still encounter complications and problems on the part of the customs officers.
Many of our citizens when crossing the Armenia-Georgia border very often encounter problems because of awareness. On July 6 RA citizen, Yerevan resident, Sargis Ghazaryan went for rest to Batumi resort, Georgia. “We were going to Batumi for 20 days by car. We arranged all the documents on Bagratashen border. I waited for my turn and very quickly certified all the necessary documents and crossed the border with Georgia,” says Ghazaryan by adding that the deadline for staying in Georgia by car is only 20 days. When the deadline passes the citizen will encounter serious problems, including financial complications. No one warned him of this. “In the Georgian customs check-point they gave me a slip of paper, was written only in Georgian. There was no word in English or Russian. I was told that it was something like technical inspection of the car. They told me this paper is something I am going to need in Georgia. This means if the patrol pulls me over I should show that paper,” tells Ghazaryan by adding that one of the pints mentioned in paper in Georgian read that the driver doesn’t have the right to drive more than 20 days in Georgia. As the majority of the RA citizens Ghazaryan didn’t know Georgian and therefore didn’t have any idea of that provision of the customs code of Georgia. “Thus, later I found out that if traveling by bus or train you can stay as long as you wish but not more than 20 days by car. This relates only to the driver and the vehicle not the passengers with you,” says Ghazaryan and goes on with telling the unpleasant incident that occurred to him. He agrees that he should have asked for a translation before signing the paper in order to know what he’s signing. “But as there was a big line and the kids were waiting in the car under the sun I thought I should get it done without making it longer. So the fact is that if I signed the document it means I have to obey their legislation. The bad thing is that our customs officers don’t warn you of this provision. They could have placed a billboard or a note.” Nevertheless, after 20 days of rest in Georgia Ghazaryan returned to the check point. He was only late for a few hours. “I was told that I don’t have the right to cross the border to Armenia because I had violated the rule. This means I have stayed 21 days instead of the required 20 days in Georgia. I asked and persuaded that I didn’t do it on purpose. But they prohibited my car. If I knew I was violating the law I wouldn’t be late for a few hours,” says Ghazaryan, whom the Georgian customs service officers offered not to apply to the court as the law is on their side. So Ghazaryan was obliged to pay 1000 Laris (about 610 USD) otherwise the Georgians have the right to confiscate the car within 14 days. “They told me to get off the car and walk and that the car is under seizure. He crossed the border with the family and stayed in the hotel of Bagratashen. I called my friends. They sent money. I took a taxi, drove back to Shulaver, paid $610; they gave me the receipt and only then gave my car keys back to me. Shortly said my rest cost me twice expensive, plus all the hassle. It’s just very offensive that our customs officers don’t warn you of this regulation,” concludes Ghazaryan.
Also, same story happened to some other Armenian citizens last year, who also by violating the rule, had to pay 1000 Laris and only after that were let return to Armenia. Some others had to leave their cars in Georgia because were not able to pay the fine within 14 days. Thus, having witnessed this experience in past, the customs officers of Armenia shouldn’t have lingered to warn once again that this provision of the customs code of Georgia is very strict. It’s not excluded that their “lingering” may be awarded by the Georgian side.