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Dozens of vehicles with foreign registration plates Wednesday blocked Uzhgorod crossing checkpoint at Ukraine-Slovakia border in a rally against the current customs regulations considering mandatory crossing of the state border of such category of vehicles within five days from entry into Ukraine.
"With today's rally, we have once again tried to draw attention to a more global problem – a five-day term for crossing the border for vehicles with foreign registration that entered Ukraine. This significantly complicates the lives of thousands of citizens across the region, who, according to Art. 95 of the Customs Code of Ukraine, drive in a so-called “transit mode” and are therefore forced every five days to technically cross the border," said Zakarpattia journalist and activist Pavlo Biletskiy.
Read alsoUkrainian parliament lifts import duty on electric vehiclesAccording to him, activists have offered to solve the problem in one of three ways: the increase up to 10 days of a stay in the territory of Ukraine of foreign-registered vehicles; the reduction of customs tax and abolishing the excise duty by the example of other countries (Slovakia - EUR 400, Belarus - $500.) "Another option is allowing a paid temporary import of vehicles with foreign registration for one year, which would fill the Ukrainian budget significantly," added Biletsky.
He also said that the relevant bills have been drafted, but the legislators pay no attention to them.
None of the top chiefs of Zakarpattia customs office have spoken with the protesters so far, according to the activist.
Local border guards have already issued a warning to travelers to use alternative crossing points at Ukraine-Slovakia border to avoid delays due to the rally.
Read alsoTransit truck traffic between Ukraine and Russia resumes on ThursdayIt should be mentioned that the protests are said to be sparked with the statement issued by local Customs regarding mandatory informing the customs officers of any force majeure that prevents motorists from crossing the border (accidents, repair works, etc.) in due term before such term expires.
UNIAN memo. On March 4, State Fiscal Service office in Zakarpattia region said in a statement that, in accordance with Art. 95 of the Customs Code of Ukraine, the following terms are set for transit of vehicles through Ukraine: 10 days (in case of movement within the area of responsibility of same customs office, the term is five days).
At the same time, according to the Customs, the norm providing for mandatory reporting on any accident or force majeure, which delays the period of crossing the border, has been in force since October 2012