Georgia has released Azerbaijani cargo trucks that had been held for more than 20 days at customs terminals in Batumi and Tbilisi, resolving a situation that had caused growing concern among transport companies.
Driver Aslan Karimov told Report’s Georgia bureau that the issue began to move once it was highlighted in the media:
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“After Report covered the problem, we finally saw progress. The seals have been removed, and trucks are being prepared for passage. The situation at both Batumi and Tbilisi terminals is stabilizing,” he said.
According to drivers, the delays affected not only shipments of tobacco products—as earlier reported-but other goods as well. Trucks are expected to resume their routes starting tomorrow morning.
The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Georgia, along with relevant Georgian agencies, confirmed that the matter was being handled promptly.
Earlier, drivers complained that only Azerbaijani trucks carrying tobacco products were held up, while Georgian vehicles passed without restrictions. They also reported a lack of clear explanations from local authorities, saying the vehicles were placed under the supervision of the Financial Police despite carrying transit cargo destined for Europe.
Drivers told Report they were not presented with any court order and said communication with customs staff was tense, with officers avoiding questions.
Georgia’s Revenue Service denied any discriminatory action. Tamar Andriadze, head of the Public Relations and Marketing Department, said customs was operating normally:
“All vehicles, including those with Azerbaijani license plates, undergo standard procedures. Once those procedures are complete, they are allowed to pass. No issues exist.”
She noted that some delays may be linked to documentation or routine customs checks.
