Latvia Opens Transit Corridor for Uzbek Trucks from Lithuania-Belarus Border

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Latvia has organized a transit corridor for cargo transport from Uzbekistan that was blocked at the Lithuania-Belarus border following its closure, the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan reported.

To resolve the issue, the ministry, with the support of the International Road Carriers Union (AIRCUZ), established a working group including representatives of the Uzbek embassies in Latvia and Belarus, as well as local government authorities.

Starting November 12, transit permits began to be issued in Polotsk on the Belarusian side to drivers who did not have them. From 13 November, permit issuance will begin at the Latvia-Lithuania border at the Medumi–Zarasai crossing.

Permits are issued based on applications submitted through the Ministry of Transport’s E-Avto Ruxsatnoma system, and the procedure will continue until 15 November inclusive.

Priority will be given to carriers whose trucks with cargo were at the Lithuania-Belarus border before 29 November, when Lithuania closed the Medininkai and Šalčininkai border checkpoints — the last ones open for transit.

Subsequently, permits will be issued within Latvia’s universal allocation framework under the Cabinet of Ministers’ resolution of 7 July 2023, and then to newly arriving carriers. Starting November 17, the Ministry of Transport will issue remaining transit documents based on applications submitted through E-Avto Ruxsatnoma.

To obtain a permit, carriers must provide the truck’s technical passport, the vehicle’s international transport license, a TIR carnet (if available), the international consignment note, and the stamp or seal of a licensed carrier.

The ministry emphasized the importance of careful preparation: permits will not be issued if transferred to third parties, lost without valid reason, used beyond the 90-day term, or if the vehicle has restrictions or is subject to sanctions.