The Lithuanian semi-trailer trucks, which stay in Belarus’ territory and have not been able to enter Lithuania since 9 November until the Lithuanian side reopens the border with Belarus, are located in dedicated parking lots. As many as 429 trucks are located in the Berestovitsa border crossing, 166 in the Benyakoni border crossing, 348 in the Kotlovka border crossing, and 102 in the Kamenny Log border crossing. Drivers of these 1,045 semi-trucks have complied with the customs service’s official demand to deliver the vehicles to specifically established and guarded parking lots. They are free to leave Belarus’ territory. But some have stayed waiting for their problems to get resolved. All the conditions have been created for them to stay in comfort in the dedicated parking lots. BelTA reporters went to the holding area of the Benyakoni border crossing and found out how things are on the ground.
The area dedicated to semi-trucks in the Benyakoni border crossing is getting gradually filled with vehicles. Many drivers have gone somewhere. Some are resting, some are taking care of their daily needs, and some are busy tending to their vehicles. For instance, Azizbek from Uzbekistan came to the border on 17 October. He shared the fact that the truck is full of fertilizers. “The border was fully closed on 29 October. It hadn’t happened before,” the man said.
“It is difficult to stand idle. After all, we’ve been idle for more than 20 days,” Azizbek added. He went on saying that although the company’s management sends him money, he could have earned money by doing his job of driving the truck. The trucker noted that it is easier for him to wait now in the dedicated parking lot where all the amenities are available. It is certainly more comfortable than waiting on the shoulder of a road.
Muzaffar is another driver from Uzbekistan. He said he had teamed up with a fellow driver and travel to the agrotown of Voronovo where they stay at a hotel for two days and spend the next two days in the truck. “Every driver cannot leave his own truck for a week. This is why we shuttle back and forth. We wait here in case some information becomes available,” he shared. “Meals are not a problem here. All the amenities are available but certainly not as good as at home,” Muzaffar added.
A shop run by Beltamozhservice Company operates in the Benyakoni border crossing for the comfortable stay and waiting of international drivers. It sells not only foods but hot meals. A set lunch costs about Br12. The shop’s manager Kristina Mitskevich added that the choice of hot dishes depends on what customers want. For instance, for drivers from Asian countries the shop specifically orders chicken and beef. Belarusian foods such as sausages and dairy products are popular as well. The shop sees a lot of customers primarily at lunch time but truckers also drop by for a cup of coffee in the morning.
By the way, the shop is open 24/7. The building also houses a free water closet (portable toilets are also available across the holding area) and a shower room that costs Br4. It is also possible to launder and dry things on the spot (Br10 for each service). If necessary, one can buy essential hygiene products: shampoos, shower gels, safety razors.
The truckers can visit the nearby agrotown of Voronovo if they want to. According to Yelena Ganevich, Chairwoman of the Voronovo District Council of Deputies, truckers feel at home in the town. “All the people that have landed in this trap are warm, well-fed. All the conditions have been created for them to feel at home here. All the services are available starting with food and ending with consumer services. In addition to what is available in the territory of the Beltamozhservice Company shop one can use the services of the bathhouse located in the agrotown, receive medical care at the local ambulatory clinic where a general practitioner works. The service is available on a priority basis if, god forbid, some illness happens. The drugstore is open,” she noted. The official underlined that the local authorities keep the finger on the pulse and pay due attention to the drivers. “We drive out, look at things, and communicate. They don’t feel they are abandoned,” Yelena Ganevich noted.
“We are such a peace-loving nation. We treat the people in such an unconventional situation with deep respect. And this situation with the border closure has once again proved that we are peace-loving, always ready to lend a helping hand regardless of your nationality or origin,” Yelena Ganevich added.
Vitaly is a driver for a Lithuanian company. He shared he feels no discomfort about the situation but on the whole, the state of affairs with the closed border gives no reasons for joy. “What is that? They can work whenever they want,” the semi-truck driver noted. “Your [authorities in Lithuania] have come up with this [border closure], sort it out.”
“It is a bad thing to do. Every side has its own opinion. They should resolve things and come to terms faster. We will continue working normally after that. After all, we drive food. The trucks have to use roundabout ways now. The products are not getting cheaper because of that. Consumers will be the ones to feel it first,” Vitaly said.
Another driver, Ivan, noted: “What can I say about the situation? We are now hostages. We cannot work. We have to stand around and wait. Everyone stays in their trucks and waits for something to get resolved and to happen. I am talking about food and money. After all, Lithuania will not transfer the money because we cannot pay with their bank cards. We are out of options. We just have to wait,” the man said. He added that Lithuanian companies would simply go bankrupt.
Chairwoman of the Voronovo District Council of Deputies Yelena Ganevich opined on the mood of the drivers. “Certainly, they are extremely frustrated by the current situation. The unexpected border closure has certainly affected the economic development of their companies where they work. They are worried about having to cover unanticipated expenses. Certainly, their wages will be affected. And they are breadwinners, after all,” the chairwoman of the Voronovo District Council of Deputies noted.
She went on saying: “Certainly, it is very wrong, it is inhumane. And the fact that Lithuanian companies are in the trap once again confirms the indifference on their side. There is no interest in maintaining some logistics directions of their own, some economic drive. It is some kind of sabotage. The drivers are confused. They don’t understand what has happened. They are essentially stressed out.”
According to previous reports from the State Customs Committee of Belarus, the State Customs Committee and the Internal Affairs Ministry keep searching for drivers and ways to move 220 Lithuanian semi-trucks to their dedicated parking lots. As many as 140 of the trucks are parked on road shoulders near border crossings. “The drivers of the Lithuanian shipping companies that deliberately fail to comply with Belarus’ Customs’ requirement to arrive at the dedicated sites within the specified timeframe will face maximum administrative fines of up to 100 base amounts,” noted Dmitry Parfenov, Chief of the Benyakoni customs post of the Grodno Regional Customs.
Text by BelTA’s Katerina LOIKO.
Photos by BelTA’s Leonid SHCHEGLOV.
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