Demarcation of Belarusian-Ukrainian border continues this year, with the Ukrainian side being allocated more guards and equipment
Border signs at checkpoint
Speaking at a session devoted to state border policy in the Brest Region, held in Brest, Leonid Maltsev, Chairman of the State Border Committee, noted that these measures won’t damage transit or tourism development.
Demarcation of the Belarusian-Ukrainian border began in 2014, with 330km (of 1,084) now marked, on the borders of the Brest and Gomel regions. In addition, the southern border now boasts the latest equipment, including two aviation subdivisions, with two pilotless aircrafts and two autogiros. Avia-parks will soon receive new machinery, enabling border guards to act with greater mobility and efficiency.
Protection and development of border communications, tourism and transit are combined. Last year, Ukrainians were granted the right to apply for entry to gather berries on the Olmany marshes, generating Br790m for the Stolin District’s budget. In addition, three day visa-free entry was granted for EU citizens wishing to visit the Belovezhskaya Pushcha; 5,800 people entered under these terms.
New conditions for convenience and speed are being created for transit transport, allowing citizens and vehicles to cross at the Peschatka, Domachevo and Kozlovichi checkpoints (on the Belarusian-Polish border) without ‘paper control’. This year will see the move applied at other checkpoints and, by September, e-queuing will be launched at Brest’s car check point.
Mr. Maltsev explains that E-gates are being tested at Minsk National Airport, telling us, “Rather than using border guards, the system will scan each passport. It will save on human resources and remove the subjective element of ‘border guard — passenger’ relations. We’ll polish the system at the airport before launching at major border checkpoints.”
By Valentina Kozlovich
