Georgia’s crackdown to hit affordable travel between Yerevan, Tbilisi

By Siranush Adamyan and Alexander Pracht

Georgia has begun cracking down on a key passenger link with Armenia, small private vans that transport groups of travelers between Yerevan and Tbilisi. 

A representative of one of the companies organizing such transfers told CivilNet on Tuesday that Georgian police started issuing fines last week for what they call “illegal transfers." The fines reportedly amount to around $1,700 for each vehicle.

It is unclear how the authorities legally distinguish between commercial transfers and regular trips, for example when friends or family travel together.

The representative said that obtaining a proper license is a highly bureaucratic process.

These small minivans are the only affordable way for many people to travel between Armenia and Georgia without a private car. A single seat costs around $8, compared to flights that start at $100 and sleeper train tickets that begin at $37 in the lowest class, with ticket availability being limited. Thus, the Georgian authorities’ pressure on small-scale carriers is delivering a serious blow to passenger connectivity between the two neighboring countries.

The industry representative also urged Armenian authorities to engage with their Georgian counterparts to help resolve the issue.

In response to CivilNet’s inquiry, Armenia’s Ministry of Transport reported earlier this week that only two companies are officially authorized to provide passenger transport services to Georgia.

The recent fines are not linked to any new border restrictions but are being imposed within Georgia itself, often against drivers using Georgia-registered vehicles.

Georgia has a long-established Armenian community, estimated between 200,000 and 400,000 people, while only about 200 Georgians currently live in Armenia, according to the latest census.