| State Customs Committee will equip the southern borders of Russia Starting this year, customs intends to prioritize financing the improvement of the border with Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. In Rostov-on-Don, Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Service (SCC) Yuri Azarov said that today the southern borders of the country are poorly equipped, while it is from this direction that the main threat to Russia’s national security comes. Drugs from Afghanistan and Tajikistan are transited through Kazakhstan to Russia, and militants constantly visit Chechnya from Georgia.
However, customs and border guards intend to strengthen the southern borders not only for security reasons. The increased cargo flow on the southern borders led to the fact that the customs service, according to Mr. Azarov, in April exceeded the target for revenues to the federal budget by 14%. However, for the convenience of exporters and importers, customs and border guards need to increase capacity as soon as possible in order to reduce the time for customs processing of goods going in this direction. For the convenience of shippers and citizens, three new checkpoints will be opened this year on the Russian-Ukrainian border. According to the head of the Southern Customs Department Sergei Kurdyumov, all of them will appear in the Rostov region. The reconstruction of the Psou checkpoint on the Russian border with Abkhazia is also aimed at the increasing flow of goods and tourists.
According to Mr. Azarov, a decision has already been made to create a railway customs office in Adler, which will serve the Abkhaz direction. Soon, freight trains will begin running on this section following the electric train. According to Deputy Presidential Envoy to the Southern Federal District Sergei Epifantsev, the Georgian side understands the need to restore railway communication between Russia and Abkhazia. In addition, the development of economic ties, in his opinion, will resolve many political problems in the region. Nowadays, 4-5 thousand citizens cross the Russian border in the area of the Psou River, but during the holiday season, according to the forecasts of the head of the Southern Customs Department, their number will exceed 10 thousand people. Igor BURAKOV, Rostov-on-Don |
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