The passenger arriving Armenia from Moscow, who is a citizen of Armenia, was refused to buy a product from the “Duty Free” stores at the Moscow airport, reasoning that they are in the EaEU common area, i.e. in the common customs area, consequently, they cannot use the customs privilege designed for “Duty Free”. Our other citizens arriving our country with the same flight also faced the same problem, many of whom had to return empty-handed, as they hoped to do shopping from the “Duty Free” stores. This problem arose after becoming a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. Joining the Union, the citizens of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russian, when traveling to the EaEU countries, are also unable to benefit from duty-free shop service.
To the question of Aravot.am of whether our citizens leaving Armenia for the EaEU countries are not also able to do shopping from the “Duty Free” stores at our airport, “ADF Shops” company management replied that the exception is made only for Armenia from the EaEU countries. According to company officials, the EaEU Treaty, Annex 3, Clause 27, stipulates that the duty-free shops in Armenia have the right to continue selling, including by EaEU directions. “We also as an operator are obligated to impose restrictions when selling imported rather than EaEU produced goods to the EaEU direction. We sell and pay its customs duty due.” Note, however, the citizens of the EaEU member countries leaving in the direction of EaEU cannot buy an unlimited number of goods at our airport. There are restrictions especially on alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and a few other sub-excisable goods. For example, they cannot buy alcohol more than 3 liters and etc.
Lusine BUDAGHYAN
