The Ministry of Finance proposed to increase the number of ports for the import of alcohol from the countries of the Caucasus

The Ministry of Finance proposed to expand the list of checkpoints for the import of alcoholic products from the countries of the Caucasus into Russia. According to the agency’s initiative, two Caspian seaports, Astrakhan and Olya, should be added to the list. Corresponding project Government decrees are published on the website of draft normative legal acts.

The document of the ministry specifies that the goal of the project is to develop the transport potential of Russia and the import of alcoholic products from the countries of the Caucasus “in the context of external sanctions pressure from unfriendly countries.”

“The draft resolution proposes the establishment of maritime checkpoints across the state border of the Russian Federation Astrakhan and Olya as checkpoints for the movement of alcoholic products by sea,” the explanatory note to the draft says.

The Ministry of Finance noted that the importance of the channel for the import of alcoholic products from the countries of the Caucasus increased after the introduction of sanctions against Russia in 2022 by the EU countries and the withdrawal of a number of foreign companies from the Russian market. “At present, there are a number of problems with the implementation of the import of alcoholic products in this direction,” the explanatory note says.

In particular, the ministry drew attention to the fact that now the automobile checkpoint on the Russian-Georgian border Upper Lars-Kazbegi operates in an increased load mode and is often closed due to adverse weather conditions. The increase in the cost of logistics is also affected by the risks of collapses, the presence of mountain serpentine, bridges and tunnels.

If the transport delivery of alcoholic beverages becomes unavailable, for example, due to the closure of road traffic, the goods will need to be delivered through other countries, such as Iran or Turkey, the document emphasizes. “Under such conditions, it seems appropriate to develop maritime transportation in the Caspian Sea, which will allow maintaining the channel for the import of alcoholic products to the Russian Federation from the countries of the Caucasus and will reduce the costs associated with logistics, since maritime communication is less expensive,” the authors of the resolution explained.

Milena Kostereva