Armenian brandy makers urge international action amid Georgian transit disruptions

Armenian alcoholic beverage producers have addressed an open letter to international organizations, expressing concern over the ongoing disruptions of Armenian goods transiting through Georgia. The full letter is provided below. 

"We, the producers of alcoholic beverages in the Republic of Armenia, appeal to the relevant international organizations and the public to urgently assess the escalating situation concerning the transit of Armenian goods through the customs territory of the Republic of Georgia.

For over a month, in clear violation of World Trade Organization regulations and internationally accepted transit transportation norms, Armenian transport vehicles carrying goods destined for third countries have faced unjustified obstacles while transiting through Georgian territory. They have been stopped and redirected to the Gezi terminal.

At this terminal, customs seals are broken without any legal or procedural justification, samples are taken without any proper accompanying documentation, and no explanations are provided for the delays in laboratory test results, which are held up for days. As a result, exporters are not allowed to deliver their goods to the intended recipients in third countries.

Currently, dozens of loaded transit vehicles are being held at the Gezi terminal in Georgia, with some of them detained for more than a month. In this way, the Georgian side, by violating internationally accepted trade standards, is causing significant material damage to Armenian producers. These producers are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations with third parties, leading to the risk of losing existing markets and halting further development of the sector.

We call upon international organizations and our foreign partners to urge the Georgian government to end this arbitrary blockade and remove the restrictions hindering the transit of goods through its territory."