Armenia to get inspections in Lachin instead of taxes in Zangazur Difficulties of regional unblocking

Armenia continues discussions on unblocking its borders and communications with Azerbaijan.

Thus, during today's briefing, Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan said that Azerbaijani goods will be taxed when transiting through Armenia to Nakhchivan.

"There will definitely be border control," Grigoryan said.

He noted that the unblocking was discussed both in Moscow and Brussels.

According to Grigoryan, if Azerbaijani goods are transited through Armenian territory, appropriate taxation will be applied.

"If the territory of Armenia is used for any goods to go from Iran to Georgia, it is not customs clearance, but another type of taxation. Naturally, in the case of Azerbaijan, the types of taxes will be applied," Grigoryan said.

Discussions on this issue are still ongoing. He didn't rule out that there will be some simplified version - with the use of modern technologies, but there will be full border control.

In turn, we recall that earlier the Armenian editorial office of Radio Liberty (Azatutyun), following a recent statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, published "sensational" details about the "simplified regime" that will link Western Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan.

According to Azatutyun, "Azerbaijani cargo and passengers entering Armenian territory will first be checked by Russian border guards and then by the Armenian Customs Service. Then the crossing will be accompanied by an Armenian special security group, which will include at least one Russian officer."

However, informed sources told Caliber.Az that the information published in Azatutyun does not correspond to reality and is aimed at encouraging the Armenian public. In reality, according to our sources, negotiations underway that Azerbaijani cargoes and passengers coming from the western regions of Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan will only be checked by Russian border guards, and there will be no customs and border checkpoints on the Armenian side.

However, if Grigoryan and Co. still dream of replenishing the meager Armenian budget at the expense of taxing Azerbaijani cargoes during future transit through Armenia, the Azerbaijani side can, and already now, start taxing Armenian cargoes when crossing Azerbaijani territory, i.e. at the entrance to the Lachin corridor.