September 14, 2021 - 16:26 AMT
Official: Azerbaijanis start inspecting Iranian buses traveling to Armenia

Azerbaijani police and border guards stationed on the Goris-Kapan interstate road in Armenia's Syunik province are inspecting not only Iranian trucks, but also buses beginning from September 14, Vice-Mayor of Goris Karo Kocharyan reveals.

According to him, Iranian drivers are deeply annoyed with the process. Some of them have reportedly told the Armenian side that they would rather not come at all than be subjected to so much scrutiny and waste so much time and money, Aysor.am reports.

"I think the purpose of all this is to oppress people. Nothing good is coming to us. What's happening is no good, and it will get worse in the future. I think that in the future they will also start checking cars with Armenian license plates," Kocharyan said.

The vice-mayor also noted that the Azerbaijani side has accumulated significant forces in the vicinity of the newly-established police checkpoint.

Azerbaijan earlier confirmed that it is collecting money from Iranian truck drivers on the Goris-Kapan interstate road in Armenia's Syunik province. Azeri police officers deployed on said road demand $130 in cash from the drivers of Iranian trucks transporting goods and products to Armenia, a CivilNet correspondent reported.

The National Security Service of Armenia said earlier that the border guards of the National Security Service of Armenia and the guards of the border service of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation are working together to resolve the situation.