New Russian Border Rules Cause ‘Probka’ for Kazakhs at the Border
Russia’s introduction of a trial of new entry procedures for foreign citizens, including Kazakhs, on June 30, 2025, has led to massive traffic jams at border crossings, despite official claims that registration through the ruID app is voluntary. In practice, drivers without a required QR code have been turned back at the border, stranding cargo and sparking frustration on both sides. Bureaucracy Meets Gridlock Under the updated rules, citizens from visa-free countries, including Kazakhstan, must present a QR code generated no later than 72 hours before arriving at the border. Officially described as voluntary, the requirement has effectively become mandatory. At the Zhaisan border crossing in Kazakhstan’s Aktobe region, dozens of heavy trucks have lined up, with queues reportedly stretching 10 kilometers. Aslan Arzymbekov, head of the regional emergency response department, attributed the delays directly to the new QR code requirement. Many drivers had not registered in advance and were left waiting for hours or even days. Local emergency services and military personnel have been providing food, water, and medical assistance to stranded drivers, who have been sleeping in their vehicles amid poor sanitary conditions. “I’ve been standing here since yesterday. My electronic queue is about to expire,” said truck driver Mikhail Khegai. “Reservations Are Expiring. There Is No Passage.” Drivers say they had secured a place in the electronic queue but were unable to reach the checkpoint in time. As a result, trucks carrying time-sensitive or perishable goods are missing delivery deadlines, causing financial losses and fraying business relationships. “It’s a terrible mess. We've been stuck here for seven kilometers. There's nothing to eat. Everyone is waiting,” said carrier Farkhatbek Tursynaliev. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, congestion has also been reported at the Zhana Zhol checkpoint in North Kazakhstan and the Bokei Khan crossing in Atyrau region. While local police are attempting to manage traffic and assist drivers, the core issues remain unresolved. Officials Offer Conflicting Explanations Kazakhstan’s State Revenue Department in Aktobe region cited roadworks on the Samara-Shymkent highway, ongoing since May 13, as a contributing factor. Temporary traffic lights and barriers have reduced throughput, with completion expected in early July. Entrepreneurs, however, have lodged nearly 200 complaints in the first three days of the new rules, according to the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken.” Ruslan Kuishinov, the chamber’s deputy director for legal affairs, called for a more transparent and organized system. “We would like to have a visual storage display so drivers can see their status and proceed calmly,” he said. The Russian Embassy in Kazakhstan has rejected claims that QR codes are mandatory, attributing the delays to seasonal increases in border traffic. “No additional requirements, including QR codes, are being imposed on citizens,” the embassy stated via its official Telegram channel. Nevertheless, drivers and border officials on the ground continue to assert that without a QR code, entry is denied, regardless of what official statements claim. While framed as a voluntary digital upgrade, the ruID system has effectively created a bottleneck for both people...
