On November 25, Alexey Sandikov, the Member of the Armenian Parliament, stated that the Armenian side offered the Russian partners to use the transport route passing through [separatist] Abkhazia to transport food products from Armenia to Russia.

He clarified that the issue was discussed in November during the visit of the Russian delegation led by Kazbek Taysaev, the First Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration, and Relations with Compatriots. "The Georgian-Abkhazian border is closed, but there are international conventions that allow for the flow of food products through the specified route. And we would like to use the Abkhaz Road for communication channels. But it requires political will in Georgia," Sandikov said.

According to him, the so-called cereal deal gave rise to thought. "Therefore, the Armenian side voiced its proposal to the Russian MPs, who considered it and promised to work on it," he added. Sandikov noted that the issue will be discussed at the meeting of profile committees in Moscow in early 2023. "If the Russian side supports that idea, Yerevan will make efforts to discuss the issue with its Georgian partners," he added. The MP thought it would be a great opportunity to get Lars' way. He described the current situation with the strategic road as complex and needing development.

In this context, Sandikov reminded that Armenia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) ratified the agreement on navigational barriers a few days ago. "Electronic checkpoints allow you to follow all logistics and customs procedures online, and the truck may not stop at the border," explained Sandikov, adding that even this will not save the situation at Lars, which continues to be the busiest in Russia, to remain one of the land border checkpoints. According to the MP, because of the created geopolitical realities, the customs point receives the majority of the flow of goods, which has a negative impact. In this regard, Sandikov reminded that in 2019, also thanks to the efforts of the Armenian side, Russia invested financial resources to improve the infrastructure of the customs post. "As a result, the capacity of the Upper Lars checkpoint increased from 150–200 transport units crossing the checkpoints to 900 in one day," he emphasized.

Regarding the launch of ferry communication and alternative ways of diversifying goods through the territory of Iran, the MP noted that everything comes down to logistics in terms of time, money, and administrative procedures. Sandikov expressed the opinion that the implementation of the tripartite declaration of November 9, 2020, between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia and the unblocking of all transport communications is primarily aimed at diversifying the flow of goods and passengers through the borders of countries that are closed for obvious reasons.