Responding to Today's Zaman in a written statement, ministry sources noted that Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan had written a letter dated May 24, 2012, to Russia's Transportation Minister Maxim Sokolov, raising concerns regarding the issue and demanding that 10,000 transit passes be issued until the problem is resolved. However, there has not been any progress made since then except for a small compromise when -- after initiatives by high-ranking Turkish officials -- Russia issued 300 passes which ran out in four to five days.

The sources explained that according to a protocol signed in 2009, transit passage through Russia was liberated but still required approval passes due to Russia's regulations. As a result of this, both sides agreed that turkey would indicate its required amount of passes for each year and Russia would issue them in line with the request. Whenever there was an extra number of passes needed, through cooperation between the Turkish Economy Ministry and Russia's Transportation Ministry more passes would be provided.

“In 2012, we came across the same issue causing problems to transport goods to Kazakhstan and our minister wrote a letter to the relevant Russian minister demanding that it be resolved. The letter also raised other logistical problems and asked the Russian side to honor the protocol signed in 2009,” the statement said.

The statement emphasized that the issue is being followed at a ministerial level and the sources expect it to be worked out in the near future, adding, “At the upcoming Turkish-Russian Land Logistics Commission meeting which is to take place in September, the sides are expected to find a long-term solution to the issue.”

Transporters have been furious over the length of time the problem been unresolved and have complained that their transportation vehicles have been waiting in garages for about 50 days. Speaking to Today's Zaman, Tuna Logistics President Sıtkı Civelek said: “This is a major problem. The Russian side has been delaying our complaints and I don't understand what could be the reason behind it. Each vehicle that passes through Russia contributes to the Russian economy. Our customers are miserable and waiting for goods to arrive in Central Asia in order to complete their projects.” He stated that as one of the leading companies that carries goods to Kazakhstan, his company tries alternative routes such as that through Georgia and Azerbaijan but it takes double the time in order to reach to destination.