🕳️ Released Phantom Node 70: Kazbegi–Verkhniy Lars Corridor. Land Bypass Artery. Phantom of the Mountain Tunnel
- Foundation date
29 September 2025
This project is a philosophical and artistic study of the phenomenon of "phantom nodes" — invisible yet influential objects and subjects in the contemporary global system. The descriptions contained within this study are metaphorical and allegorical, aimed at uncovering systemic problems, regimes, and civilisational influences. They are not a journalistic investigation or legal accusations, but serve as an artistic interpretation of reality.
This creation is protected and cannot be used by third parties for the purpose of supporting, propagating, or legitimizing criminal regimes, terrorist states, and organizations operating in the shadows. The use of data or analysis results from this project, whether in part or in full, is expressly prohibited if the objective is to support or conceal their criminal activity.
The project may be freely used by individuals and organizations that combat evil, corruption, and aggression.
🕳️ Released Phantom Node 70: Kazbegi–Verkhniy Lars Corridor. Land Bypass Artery. Phantom of the Mountain Tunnel
The shadow of bribes in the mountain passage
Who is this?
It is not a person but a geographical artery — the only legal land crossing between Georgia and Russia. It has turned into a phantom zone where the border functions as a marketplace of organised corruption, serving the transit of sanctioned goods.
Type of node:
Logistical-corruption infrastructure
Status:
Grey zone under the cover of statehood
Form of control:
Bribery, traffic jams, queue manipulation
Phantom image:
A mountain tunnel where laws vanish in the dark
What remains after the phantom:
Schemes, blacklists, delays, disillusion
Core of the node:
What sustained it?
Geographical monopoly, customs corruption, ties to the politico-oligarchic nexus.
How did it become a phantom?
It shifted from a border checkpoint into a symbol of lawlessness where bribery sets the rules.
Why does the phantom still exist?
Because it is vital for trade and sanctions evasion, convenient for all involved parties.
Phantom’s condition:
Active, normalised, integrated into corrupt networks.
After the regime:
Exposure of shadow tariffs
Breaking bribery chains
Transparent electronic monitoring
Collective reaction:
We know the mountains are not guilty. But the corridor was turned into a channel of betrayal. Its phantom must be dispersed, so the border becomes a border again, not a bazaar of shadows.
Core principle:
When the only gate becomes a black hole, the law disappears into its depths.
Alt-text:
Image of the Kazbegi–Verkhniy Lars corridor: lorries in long queues, a dark tunnel where light fades into the shadow of bribes.
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Unmasking the Phantom. Pivtorak.Studio. 29.09.2025
🛡️ This project is an artistic and philosophical exploration.
All depictions are allegorical; the piece does not allege facts about specific private individuals without corroborated evidence.
🫧 Phantom Node Dossier 70: Kazbegi–Verkhniy Lars Corridor. The Artery of Land Circumvention.
Key Aspects of the Phantom:
"The Artery of Land Circumvention" (or "The Ghost of the Mountain Tunnel"). The essence of this node lies in the exploitation of geographical monopolism (it is the only legal border crossing between Georgia and Russia) to create a system of organized, highly profitable corruption. The phantom exploits chronic queues and logistical pressure to normalize bribery for the rapid and unimpeded transit of sanctioned goods (especially by road transport).
Regimes (which it directly shapes/supports):
🚚 Regime of "The Fast Corridor": The creation of an informal yet clear priority system where trucks with sanctioned goods bypass general queues and customs scrutiny for a fixed fee.
⛰️ Regime of "Geographical Monopolism": Exploiting the single critical crossing point to establish shadow tariffs for transit, covering bribes and logistical risks.
📝 Regime of "Minimal Inspection": Ensuring only formal customs procedures for "their" carriers, where inspectors knowingly ignore discrepancies between cargo and declarations.
💸 Regime of "Transit Pressure": Creating and maintaining artificial traffic jams and delays to force legitimate carriers to pay for expedited service.
Tools (which it actively uses/oversees):
💰 Systematic Bribery: A stable chain of bribes involving border police, customs officers, and logistics terminal staff.
💻 Queue Manipulation: Interference with digital queue management systems (where applicable) or the use of physical "blacklists" to prioritize cargo.
📜 False Manifests: The use of declarations that deliberately vaguely or falsely describe high-tech or military dual-use goods as low-value or general cargo.
🚛 Politically Connected Carriers: The utilization of specific trucking companies that have a "guarantee" of rapid passage due to connections with the "Architect of Impunity" (Node 69).
Civilizational Influences (which it embodies/exploits):
💔 Degradation of State Control: The border is functionally transformed into a "grey zone," where state authority is replaced by corruption schemes.
🔗 Physical Fueling of Aggression: Direct, physical delivery of critical resources (car parts, electronics, raw materials) for the military-industrial complex.
💸 Reduction of Sanctions Effectiveness: The node is one of the world's most powerful channels for undermining export restrictions, diminishing international pressure.
🌍 Legitimization of Criminal Transit: The transformation of a state border into a place where systemic criminality has become the norm of transit business.
Dissection of a Phantom Node. Pivtorak.Studio. 29.09.2025
🛡️ This project is an artistic and philosophical exploration. Depictions are allegorical and do not allege facts about private individuals without corroborated evidence.
