The head of the Russian FSB, Alexander Bortnikov, ordered the establishment of a border zone in the regions of the Russian Federation bordering Belarus. These are Smolensk, Bryansk and Pskov regions. Such a decision could be a step towards resolving a legal conflict: now a citizen of a third country cannot legally cross the border between Russia and Belarus, since there are no border checkpoints on it. This problem, among others, was raised during negotiations in November 2016 by the foreign ministers of the two countries, Sergei Lavrov and Vladimir Makei.

On the portal legal information In Russia, from January 26 to 29, three orders appeared from the head of the FSB, Alexander Bortnikov, establishing new border zone limits in the Smolensk, Pskov and Bryansk regions on the border with Belarus. As the documents say, this was done to “create the necessary conditions for protecting the state border of the Russian Federation.” Previously, the border zone between Russia and Belarus did not exist at all, because the countries are part of the Union State. Now, according to the orders of Mr. Bortnikov, the FSB is instructed to “establish places and times for the entry and passage of persons, as well as Vehicle to the border zone, organize the installation of warning signs.”

The lack of control and international checkpoints on the border between Russia and Belarus to this day creates a legal conflict, due to which a citizen of a third country cannot legally cross the Russian-Belarusian border. This was officially confirmed to Kommersant by the Public Communications Center of the FSB of Russia. “Due to the absence of checkpoints on the Russian-Belarusian section of the state border, where persons, vehicles, cargo, goods and animals are passed through the state border of the Russian Federation, it is not possible for citizens of third countries to cross it,” the department told Kommersant. .- Grounds for crossing the Russian-Belarusian border by citizens of third countries even if they have properly executed documents giving the right to stay on the territory of the Russian Federation and Belarus (visas, residence permits, temporary residence permits, migration card) not available. Sanctions may be applied to violators in accordance with Russian legislation.”

At the same time, as senior Belarusian diplomats have repeatedly reported to Kommersant, Minsk is satisfied with the lack of control on the border with Russia and the Belarusian authorities have not initiated any tightening of the regime.

The heads of the Foreign Ministries of Russia and Belarus Sergei Lavrov and Vladimir Makei discussed the current legal conflict and ways to resolve it at negotiations in Minsk in November 2016. “A draft agreement on mutual recognition of visas is currently being discussed,” Mr. Lavrov said then. At the same time, Secretary of State of the Union State Grigory Rapota, answering a question from Kommersant, said that the creation of international checkpoints on the border of Russia and Belarus, as well as at airports where planes fly from Belarus, is “theoretically possible.” “But how this will be done is the subject of the work of the intergovernmental group,” he clarified.

The director of the Belarusian Center for European Integration, Yuri Shevtsov, in a conversation with Kommersant, linked Mr. Bortnikov’s decision with the aggravation of the situation in eastern Ukraine. “The problem that they are trying to solve is the crossing of the Russian-Belarusian border by citizens of Ukraine,” he suggested. “Russia will strengthen control over this.” At the same time, Mr. Shevtsov added that creating the opportunity for legal entry from Russia into Belarus and vice versa for citizens of third countries is “only a bureaucratic issue that can be resolved with the stroke of a pen.”

Another reason for the establishment of a border zone on the border with Belarus may be the signing by Minsk on January 9 of an agreement on a visa-free regime with 80 countries, including all members of the European Union and the United States. However, citizens of these countries will be able to stay in Belarus for only 5 days, and with prerequisite- they must fly in and fly back through Minsk National Airport.

Belarusian economist Dmitry Bolkunets on Kommersant FM:“I think no one will get hurt, because this is still aimed at foreigners. Both Russians and Belarusians will be able to travel with their national passports, as they did before.”

Kirill Krivosheev, Galina Dudina

Why Alexander Lukashenko accused Russia of low salaries of Belarusians

In November 2016, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko spoke at a press conference attended by journalists from 46 regions of Russia. As Mr. Lukashenko stated, now “Belarusian-Russian relations have the opportunity to reach a qualitatively new level.” In addition, he called “not to waste the Stalin period,” stated that the reason for the collapse of the USSR was a shortage of washing powder, and admitted that a “fair society” has not yet been created in Belarus. At the same time, Alexander Lukashenko laid the blame for low wages in his country on Russia, which, according to him, creates unequal conditions for competition.

For the first time since 2011 Russia and Belarus will be separated not by a formal, but by a real border. This decision was made by Moscow following the decision of Alexander Lukashenko on a visa-free regime for foreigners who could now easily enter Russia. However, there is a deeper reason for this decision.

On Wednesday the director Federal service Russian security Alexander Bortnikov ordered the establishment of a border zone on the borders of the Smolensk, Pskov and Bryansk regions with Belarus. Later it is planned to determine the order and time of passage of people and entry of vehicles into the border zone, where warning signs will be installed.

According to the document, measures have been taken to “create the necessary conditions for protecting the state border of Russia.” Previously, there was no border zone on the borders of Russian regions with Belarus.

Let us note that border control on the border of the two republics, including on the M1 highway (Moscow - Minsk), was abolished 20 years ago with the advent of the Union State. However, until 2011 there was still a customs control. De facto, everyone crossing the border had to present documents - although not to the border guards, but only to customs officers. In the last 6 years, actual control has also disappeared - so, cars with Russian and Belarusian license plates they cross the border without stopping at all, only slowing down a little at the request of road signs. Only trucks were subject to control.

Belarus introduced a border zone regime along the Belarusian-Russian border back in September 2014 by presidential decree. However, the decree turned out to be an empty formality - Belarusian border guards did not appear on the border with Russia. Representative of the State Border Committee of Belarus Anton Bychkovsky reminded RIA Novosti about this on Wednesday.

However, now, it seems, everything will change - and those traveling to Belarus by car or train will have to present documents to at least Russian border guards. Let us remind you that on February 9, the decree of the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on a five-day visa-free regime for citizens of 80 countries, including the USA, EU, Brazil, and Japan, comes into force. Therefore, foreigners coming to Belarus have the opportunity to enter Russian territory without going through necessary procedures. In this regard, the FSB began from the beginning of the year to check the documents of all passengers arriving at Moscow airports from Minsk.

However, already in September, a bus with 30 tourists from Austria, which was hosted by a Kaliningrad company in Russia, was forced to change the route and make an 800-kilometer detour from the checkpoint near Smolensk to enter Russia. The official reason is due to the lack of border control posts in this place for the passage of third-country citizens. Tourists were advised to enter Russia through Latvia or Ukraine, where there are full-fledged, regular international checkpoints. In October, the Russian Union of Tourism Industry warned that the Krasnaya Gorka border checkpoint near Smolensk would not allow citizens of all states except representatives of Russia and Belarus, residents of the Union State, to pass through.

In November, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that sanctions could be applied to foreigners crossing the border between Russia and Belarus, since there are no international checkpoints there. She explained this by a fundamental change in the situation in the world. “The risks associated with terrorist and migration issues have increased sharply,” Zakharova said.

According to her, Russian competent authorities regularly detained persons on this section of the border who had no reason to enter the Russian Federation and posed a security threat.

Minsk feels pressure

In Minsk, however, they doubt the reasons given by Moscow for restoring the border. The head of the Minsk Center for Strategic and Foreign Policy Studies, Yuri Tsarik, considers what is happening under pressure from Russia, “the desire to ensure those actions of the Belarusian side, primarily in the military-political sphere, in which Moscow is interested.”

“We know all the official justifications and positions related to the so-called border-migration issue. Based on the logic of the Russian side’s argumentation, we must admit that either the previous 20 years, when all the agreements worked normally, the entry of foreigners through Belarus into Russia was carried out illegally, or that the Russian side’s arguments are far-fetched and, most likely, politically motivated.” , - Tsarik told the newspaper VZGLYAD.

“The situation was expected,” the expert noted. The political scientist recalled that the basic conflict between the countries has been going on since mid-2015, when the question of placing a Russian airbase on the territory of Belarus again arose. When this issue began to be discussed in more detail, “aspects related not only to the air base, but also to the land base, surfaced.”

“Russia would like to turn Belarus into its military-strategic springboard and seeks to station its troops here on a permanent basis. Belarus does not agree to this, since it is incompatible with the country’s sovereignty. Everything that happens around this: gas, oil, and so on, in our opinion, is a toolkit in relation to the main contradiction,” the expert concluded.

On the contrary, the deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption, Anatoly Vyborny (United Russia), in a conversation with the newspaper VZGLYAD, welcomed the decision of the FSB. He said that Russia is doing everything possible to “fully guarantee the protection of the state and citizens from any unforeseen circumstances or conflicts.”

“Belarus is one of the closest states for us, and we don’t expect anything bad from this side. But nevertheless, we want peace, tranquility and security for our society. We see what is happening in the world, on the border of Belarus with Poland and with other states,” the deputy said.

Vyborny assured that Russians and Belarusians, who are used to freely traveling across the border, will not have any problems. “This is our Union State. Belarus is also a member of the CSTO. We have extremely close and close political-economic relations and cultural ties. But the issue of security is a category of a different dimension; it should always be high level and meet the interests of our national security“, - summed up Anatoly Vyborny.

As the newspaper VZGLYAD wrote, since December tensions in relations between Minsk and Moscow have been growing again. Thus, Alexander Lukashenko missed the CSTO and EAEU summits in St. Petersburg, thereby depriving them of quorum (because of this, for example, it was not possible to elect a new CSTO Secretary General). In addition, in December, four well-known pro-Russian bloggers were taken into custody in Minsk. Contrary to the personal calls of Sergei Lavrov, Minsk decided to extradite one of them to Azerbaijan - a Russian, the famous traveler Alexander Lapshin. Lapshin’s guilt is that he previously visited Karabakh without permission from Baku. “Lukashenko has forgotten himself and gained a taste for it,” the State Duma told the newspaper VZGLYAD about this, adding that “such reptilianism” resembles another anti-Russian gesture.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov directly called on Minsk not to extradite Lapshin, recalling that “we and Belarus” have a Union State, within which a fundamental decision has been made to equalize the rights of citizens of one and another country in all areas without exception. This circumstance “requires, among other things, the determination of unified lists of persons who are undesirable and desirable; this also requires a unified policy in the field of

He ordered the establishment of border zone limits in the Bryansk, Smolensk and Pskov regions along the border with Belarus. The corresponding orders are published on the official Internet portal of legal information and in. They come into force on February 7, 2017.

All three orders instruct regional border departments to “establish the places and times of entry (passage) of persons and vehicles into the border zone; organize the installation of warning signs at the entrances to the border zone.”

Previously, there was no border zone in the Smolensk region, in the Bryansk region it existed only along the border with Ukraine, in the Pskov region - along the border with Latvia and Estonia.

The border zone on the border of Russia and Belarus existed until 1995. Then, in connection with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Good-Neighborliness and Cooperation on February 21, 1995, it was abolished. Its restoration in 2017 is explained by the need to strengthen control over migration flows, a source in the FSB Border Service explained to Gazeta.Ru.

Since then, the border and diplomatic departments of the two countries have not agreed on entry rules for citizens of third countries. For 20 years, no one saw this as a problem, and foreigners freely entered Russia through Belarus.

The border zone regime along the Belarusian border is being introduced to curb the flow of migrants and sanctioned goods, confirmed Gazeta.Ru’s interlocutor in one of the regional border departments of the FSB.

According to him, this is due to the fact that the “difference” in the migration legislation of the two countries allows persons from third countries to cross the Russian state border from the so-called uncontrolled borders.

He recalled that, for example, there is a visa regime between Moscow and Tbilisi. However, Georgian citizens bypass it, entering Russian territory through Belarus.

“Remember the Polish diplomats who tried to pass through the Russian-Belarusian section? Despite the fact that there are no checkpoints established in the relevant international agreements“, the interlocutor recalled. —

Belarusians want to go to Russia - please, they are practically not checked by customs. We can freely import all personal belongings into Belarus and from it into Russia. And citizens of other countries must undergo the full procedure.”

According to the interlocutor, the lack of a border zone is a problem for everyone control bodies: customs, and others.

“Because tons of sanctioned goods are imported from third countries: Polish apples, apricots, foie gras,” stated the source of Gazeta.Ru.

The border guard also recalled that in 2014 Belarus introduced a border zone on its side.

IN explanatory note to the draft order on the Federal Portal of Draft Regulatory Legal Acts it is stated that the document “is aimed at creating the necessary conditions for protecting the state border of the Russian Federation in the Russian-Belarusian section and carrying out measures to prevent offenses, the fight against which is within the competence of border authorities.”

In January, the President of Belarus simplified entry rules into the country for citizens of 80 countries. Press Secretary Russian President stressed that before publishing the relevant decree, Minsk held all the necessary consultations with the Russian side.

Minsk criticized Russia's decision to create border zones on the border with Belarus. The measures are aimed against citizens of third countries, Moscow assures. However, they can also affect citizens of two countries, and decision may be political, experts say

FSB orders

On February 1, the Federal Security Service of Alexander Bortnikov was published on the legal information Internet portal, in accordance with which a border zone is established on the borders of the Smolensk, Pskov and Bryansk regions with Belarus. Border zones are established to “create the necessary conditions for protecting the state border of the Russian Federation,” the documents say.

Regional FSB departments in three regions will have to establish places and times for the entry and passage of persons, as well as vehicles, into the border zone, and organize the installation of warning signs. Previously, there were no border zones on the borders of Russian constituent entities with Belarus.

The decision to establish a border zone on the border between Russia and Belarus is a preventive measure against possible border crossings by citizens of third countries, Russian Ambassador to Minsk Alexander Surikov told reporters on Thursday. He emphasized that the establishment of a border zone does not change anything for citizens of Russia and Belarus. There are no plans yet to introduce border controls on trains arriving from Belarus, he also said. " It's about about third country nationals. For example, neighboring Ukraine,” insists the chairman of the committee on international affairs Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev (quote from Interfax).

The border zone existed until 1995 and was abolished after the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborhood and Cooperation between Russia and Belarus. Since 1995, the countries have not agreed on entry rules for citizens from other states: it was possible to enter Russia through the territory of Belarus without having the necessary visa, explains RBC’s interlocutor, who is familiar with the work of the FSB border service. According to him, inspection of cargo traveling from Belarus to Russia was not organized, which made it possible to bypass restrictions on the import of sanctioned products into the country. In addition, the lack of control at the border allowed those involved in criminal cases and debtors to leave Russia and go to other countries through Belarus, the source notes. Bases law enforcement the two countries are not fully synchronized, so a person against whom the Russian security forces had complaints could cross the border, go through control at the Minsk airport and fly away. Now the border zone between Russia and Belarus will be organized in the same way as with other countries: for example, there will be checkpoints for cars.

Mutual claims

Representatives of Russia on Thursday, February 2, also indicated that the measures taken are in response to the decision of Belarus to introduce visa-free regime country visits for citizens of almost 80 countries. The introduction of a visa-free regime for tourists from the USA, EU countries and others was announced by the President of Belarus Alexander, and Bortnikov’s orders are dated December 29, 2016. The visa-free regime will be valid for five days for those arriving by plane. New order will not apply to persons intending to fly to Russian airports and persons arriving from Russian airports. “We respect the sovereignty of Belarus, but we are a little alarmed by this decree on visa-free entry citizens of 80 countries to the national airport,” said Ambassador Surikov.

The Belarusian side sharply commented on Moscow's decision. “The Russian side made the decision without prior notice,” said Maria Vanshina, head of the press service of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry. This contradicts all existing agreements on the protection of the state borders of the two countries and the procedure for their crossing, she said. According to her, this is not the first such case: “A similar situation occurred at the beginning of 2016, when Russia actually began to introduce restrictions on the entry of third-country citizens across the border of Belarus and Russia.”

The issue of tightening the border regime between Russia and Belarus arose in the fall of 2016. As the Kommersant newspaper reported, in September a bus with Austrian tourists was not allowed from Belarus to Russia through a checkpoint on the M1 highway; they had to take a detour. In early November, official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said that for many years Foreign citizens freely crossed the Russian-Belarusian border without going through passport control, but the situation in the world has changed dramatically. According to Zakharova, foreigners can enter Russia only through specialized checkpoints. However, checkpoints for international traffic on the Russian-Belarusian border were not equipped.

Official representative of the State Border Committee of Belarus Anton Bychkovsky called the decision on border zones an internal matter of Russia. There are no border guards or border zone on the Belarusian side, he recalled.

Union is in question

“Many have the impression that these actions lead to the restoration of full control on the Belarusian-Russian border, abolished more than twenty years ago. And this goes against a whole series of existing agreements,” Vanshina noted in her statement. A simplified procedure for movement, in fact the absence of a border, is one of the most obvious and convenient achievements for citizens in relations between the two countries, an interlocutor in Belarusian diplomatic circles previously told RBC.

The problem of movement is not the only one in bilateral relations. In 2016, Moscow and Minsk were unable to agree on the terms of gas supply; Russia limited the supply of meat and dairy products from several Belarusian enterprises, which caused criticism from Minsk. Problems also appeared at the level of integration associations. Over the past year, President Lukashenko has repeatedly criticized the Eurasian Economic Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for low efficiency, and at the end of the year. However, there is no talk of Minsk leaving these associations, a source close to the leadership of Belarus assured RBC. The CSTO Secretariat has not received any withdrawal requests from Belarus; meetings of the CSTO Permanent Council are regularly held under the country’s chairmanship, CSTO press secretary Vladimir Zainetdinov told RBC.

However, RBC’s source in Belarusian diplomatic circles admits that many problems have accumulated in relations between Moscow and Minsk and the level of trust has decreased.

As Mikhail Yemelyanov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on State Building, said, the President of Belarus is playing a “dangerous game.” “If Lukashenko continues his “multi-vector policy,” then relations with Belarus will not change for the better,” the deputy predicted (quoted by Interfax). In addition to the decision to provide a visa-free regime for foreign tourists, Minsk agreed with the EU on the construction of a migrant detention center in Belarus using European funds. Last year, European sanctions against Belarusian officials were lifted.

Alexander Lukashenko (Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

“There are quite understandable economic contradictions between Moscow and Minsk: these are issues of energy prices, access of Belarusian goods to Russian market and maintaining a coordinated economic policy,” Belarusian political scientist Vadim Gigin told RBC. “However, contradictions between countries arise periodically, and there is always a mechanism to overcome them.” Gigin expects that as a result of government and expert consultations, and then a meeting of the leaders of the two countries, current problems will be resolved. The meeting of the presidents could take place in the first half of February, press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov reported.

The decision of the FSB to introduce border zones, according to RSUH associate professor Alexander Gushchin, is a demonstrative step, the reason for which lies in the layering of several crises in bilateral relations. However, the political scientist does not rule out that Moscow’s actions will become a subject of bargaining during upcoming bilateral negotiations, in particular at the presidential level. “Russia and Belarus have too close a relationship, and it is quite difficult to understand which of them is needed more and whose negotiating positions will be more advantageous,” political scientist and associate professor at the Russian State University for the Humanities Alexander Gushchin explained to RBC. — Minsk depends on Russia and is trying to diversify its international relations so as not to fall under complete political influence. But Moscow also needs Belarus: for example, in military-strategic terms and from the point of view of integration processes.”

History of conflicts between Russia and Belarus

· 2006— under the guise of Belarusian beet sugar, cane sugar from Latin America was imported to Russia. Sugar produced in Belarus from imported raw materials was to be subject to a duty of $340 per ton. Russia has restricted imports. In response, Minsk stopped the import of alcohol and confectionery from Russia. At the beginning of 2007, restrictions were lifted.

· January 2007— Russia has introduced a duty on the sale of Belarusian oil. In response, Minsk introduced a duty on the transit of oil from Russia, and Moscow stopped supplies. After telephone conversations presidents, Belarus lifted the restrictions, agreeing to Russian conditions.

· Early June 2009— a ban on the import of hundreds of types of dairy products into Russia due to non-compliance by the Belarusian side technical regulations on her. Minsk responded by strengthening customs controls. Supplies of Belarusian milk to Russia resumed in the second half of June after negotiations.

· June 2010— Russia has reduced gas supplies to Belarus due to debt. Belarus repaid the debt using a loan provided by Azerbaijan.

· September 2015— Vladimir Putin instructed to sign an agreement on the creation of a Russian air base on the territory of Belarus. In response, Alexander Lukashenko stated that this topic was not discussed. Later, Lukashenko promised to discuss the issue with Putin. As the latter’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov reported, the presidents discussed this topic in October 2015. In April 2016, the head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, Vladimir Makei, said that the issue was closed at the moment.

· May 2016— contradictions arose between Belarus and Russia due to late and incomplete payment for gas supplied to Belarus. In June 2016, the presidents of the two countries instructed the heads of energy departments to resolve the dispute over the price of gas. On October 10, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that the issue had been resolved. Despite this, by January 2017, the debt reached $550 million. Moreover, in August 2016, Russia reduced oil supplies to Belarus, after which official Minsk increased the tariff for the transit of Russian oil (by 20.5% on average).

Director of the Federal Security Service of Russia Alexander Bortnikov signed three orders establishing the limits of the border zone in the Pskov, Smolensk and Bryansk regions bordering Belarus.

The orders are dated December 29, 2016, registered with the Russian Ministry of Justice on January 26 and come into force 10 days later, that is, February 6.

In each of the orders, the head of the FSB defines new boundaries of the border zone - in fact, along the entire border with Belarus. The border zone is specified in detail for each district on the territory of three Russian regions and is linked to geographic coordinates.

The FSB border departments in the Pskov, Smolensk and Bryansk regions were ordered to establish places and times for the entry of vehicles and the passage of persons into the border zone. It was also ordered to install warning signs at the entrances to the border zone.

Before the adoption of this document, the border zone in the Pskov region ran along the coast of Lake Pskov-Peipus and along land border Russia with Latvia and Estonia, and in Bryansk - a narrow strip along the border with Ukraine. In the Smolensk region, which is entirely adjacent to Belarus, there was no border zone at all.

Russia’s establishment of a border zone along the border with Belarus may be connected with the decision of official Minsk to establish a visa-free procedure for entry into Belarus for a maximum of five days through the Minsk airport for citizens of 80 states, including the entire European Union, as well as Brazil, Indonesia, the USA, Japan and some other states.

Alexander Lukashenko signed the corresponding decree on January 9 of this year - 11 days after the signing of the three mentioned orders by the head of the FSB. However, in a conversation with journalists on January 10, the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the Russian side was aware of the impending step of the Belarusian authorities. Answering the question whether Minsk coordinated its actions with Moscow, Peskov said that “since the services [of Russia and Belarus] are in constant and daily coordination, including within the framework of the Union State, there should be no doubts.”

The Kremlin called Minsk’s decision to partially simplify the visa regime internal matter Belarus.

What is the difference between border territory and border zone

In September 2014, Alexander Lukashenko signed decree No. 433 on the establishment of border territory within the administrative-territorial units adjacent to the state border of Belarus with Russia.

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Some Russian media and experts recalled this decision in connection with the order of the head of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation to establish the limits of the border zone on the territory of the Pskov, Smolensk and Bryansk regions bordering Belarus.

However, as experts note, the border zone and the border territory are not identical concepts.

“Border territory is a broader concept than a border zone,” Anton Bychkovsky, official representative of the State Border Committee, explained to BelaPAN. — This concept presupposes certain legal conditions for the activities of border service authorities in this territory. At the same time, no border regime is introduced in the area that is border territory. A border zone or border strip is introduced in order to ensure the border regime—the state border regime.”

According to information posted on the website of the State Border Committee, the border zone in Belarus is established in sections of those areas of the Vitebsk, Brest, Grodno and Gomel regions that are adjacent to state border with Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Ukraine. In the Mogilev region, which is completely adjacent to the border with Russia, there is no border zone.

Buffer for illegal migration

The innovation of the Federal Border Service of Russia regarding stay in the border zone in connection with its creation on the border with Belarus may be extended to Belarusian citizens who entered the territory of the Russian Federation, as well as to citizens of third countries.

This opinion was expressed by national security expert Alexander Tishchenko in a commentary for BelaPAN. Reservations regarding citizens of Belarus in in this case no, he stated.

The expert believes that by its actions Russia is creating a buffer for illegal migration. At the same time, he recalled that Belarus had previously introduced a regime for border territories to ensure preventive activities they are subject to internal affairs agencies and border services, but the border zone regime is much more serious.

The solution to the problem that has arisen, according to Alexander Tishchenko, is now within the competence of the foreign policy departments of the two countries.
At the same time, the border service of the Federal Security Service of Russia told a BelaPAN correspondent that the decision to introduce a border zone on the border with Belarus will not affect the citizens of Belarus in any way.

“For citizens of Belarus who cross the border with Russia, everything will remain as before: you only need to have a passport with you, no additional documents not required,” emphasized a representative of the FSB border service.

The decision of the Russian side concerns citizens of third countries who travel from Belarus to Russia.

Opposition demands response

Activists of the organization “Youth of the Belarusian Popular Front” Mark Grinevich and Artem Kosovarov called on the Belarusian authorities to introduce a border zone on the border with Russia. They sent a corresponding appeal on February 2 to the President of Belarus and the State Border Committee in connection with the introduction Russian Federation border zone on the border with the Republic of Belarus, the press service of the youth organization reported.

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The State Border Committee is also invited to consider introducing full control on the country’s eastern border and “creating the necessary infrastructure.” This, according to public activists, “will help strengthen good relations with the Russian Federation,” as well as protect Belarus “from drug trafficking, weapons, illegal migrants,” and strengthen independence and sovereignty.

Alexander Lukashenko, activists of the “Youth of the Belarusian Popular Front” ask “to create border groups on the border with the Russian Federation as quickly as possible to protect the eastern border, which will help strengthen the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus.”

“We fully support the demands and proposals of our activists, but at the same time we want to note that such measures should have been introduced a long time ago. Unfortunately, until this moment, more than 1 thousand 200 km of our eastern border is not under proper protection, which creates a great danger for the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus,” commented the head of the youth organization Yuri Lukashevich.

“Youth of the Belarusian Popular Front” calls on citizens of Belarus to send appeals to the Presidential Administration demanding the restoration of the border with Russia.

It should be noted that the question of the need to introduce full control on the border with Russia was repeatedly raised during the 2016 parliamentary election campaign by parliamentary candidates Vladimir Podgol and Ales Tolstyko.

InoSMI materials contain assessments exclusively of foreign media and do not reflect the position of the InoSMI editorial staff.