Kazakhstan blames Russia for multi-kilometre truck queue at border

A multi-kilometre traffic jam of cargo trucks has formed at the Kazakhstan–Russia border due to a slowdown in processing on the Russian side, Kazakhstan’s Finance Ministry said.

The State Revenue Committee of the ministry told RIA Novosti that the congestion occurred because the neighbouring side has reduced the pace of processing them.

According to the committee, the imbalance in infrastructure capacity has contributed to the buildup. Four lanes are currently operating at Kazakhstan’s Zhaisan checkpoint, while only two lanes are functioning at Russia’s Sagarchin checkpoint on the opposite side of the border. This discrepancy prevents the even flow of vehicles, and amid increased traffic volumes, has led to long queues.

The agency noted that such congestion typically occurs at the end of weekends, when large numbers of people choose to cross the border simultaneously in private vehicles.

The Zhaisan checkpoint is located in the Martuk district of Kazakhstan’s Aktobe region, directly opposite the Sagarchin checkpoint in Russia’s Akbulak district of the Orenburg region.

Earlier on Sunday, videos circulated on social media showing a large buildup of trucks at the crossing, with reports indicating that the queue stretched for several kilometres.

By Tamilla Hasanova