Baltic States – CIS, Latvia, Lithuania, Transport

The State Border Guard informed LETA that at Terehova and Grebneva – the two border crossing points on the Latvian-Russian border – altogether 1,366 vehicles were backed up this morning, or by 76 vehicles more than yesterday when 1,290 trucks were waiting in line.

Currently, of all the vehicles waiting for the entry to Russia at the border crossing point at Terehova, 845 are trucks; at Grebneva there are 280 trucks waiting in line.

The number of passenger cars waiting in line at the two border crossing points is 126 and 115 respectively.

According to the latest information, Russian Customs Service officers have agreed to simplify the inspection of trucks, however, they demanded in exchange for this that the vehicles of 29 Lithuanian trucking companies, which allegedly have violated Russia's customs regulations, be not permitted to enter the territory of Russia.

The truck lines on Latvian-Russian border began to grow last week, when the Russian Customs Service strengthened control over all cargo transported by Lithuanian carriers. In the last few days, truck lines have started to form also on Russian borders with Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Estimated losses of one day of idle standing for each truck is around EUR 300 to EUR 500 (LVL 211-LVL 351).