“We have a common market, but every truck must have the appropriate set of documents. It is essential to understand where the goods are located and who is responsible for paying VAT upon receipt. However, ‘black imports’ continue to enter our customs territory, resulting in Russia missing out on tens of billions of rubles,” Putin stated.
He also mentioned that he had reached an agreement with the President of Kazakhstan to take measures aimed at speeding up the movement of trucks. The customs authorities agreed on the necessity of providing advance information on the value of goods and the recipient.
“Let this be within the framework of the so-called green corridor; at least something must be paid. Starting next year, our customs will require all documents during selective inspections, and without them, passage will not be allowed, up to confiscation. Order needs to be established,” Putin added, assuring that the issue with the queues could be resolved by the end of the year, and thousands of trucks have already been allowed through.
This situation arose after the president's decree, according to which goods imported into Russia must be received by Russian legal entities.
“Previously, we, Kyrgyz entrepreneurs, could simply bring goods through cargo, but now there must be a recipient in Russia with whom there is a contract and who is obliged to pay VAT at a rate of 20 percent. However, many of our businessmen working on marketplaces are registered as Kyrgyz legal entities. We strive to pay VAT, bring in goods, and operate legally, but we do not have a legal entity in Russia to make this payment,” explained entrepreneur Azamat Kerimbek uulu in an interview with 24.kg.
