What is the difference between a border strip and a border zone, and what is the specificity of the work of Polotsk border guards
– Vladislav Leonidovich, what does the Polotsk Border Guard Detachment represent today?
– Over the past 25 years, our detachment has been established, and today it holds a worthy place in the system of border service bodies. It is a modern military unit, staffed and equipped with everything necessary to solve operational and service tasks for the reliable protection of the State Border of the Republic of Belarus.
Electronic and computer technologies are increasingly used in border protection, and the process of engineering the border is actively underway. New technical systems and modern border control means are being introduced, and new vehicles and boats are being received. The "Grigorovshchina" border crossing point on the Belarusian-Latvian border is now in a new guise, and the "Urbany" border crossing point is also set for transformation.
– What kind of team has developed?
– Cohesive, friendly – like one big family, where everyone contributes to the common cause. We have a strong veterans' organization, quite a few family dynasties, where children continue their parents' work, and often their wives serve alongside their husbands. And here, it must be said, how important female support is in the family of a border guard.
A wife must be prepared not only to endure the hardships of everyday life that they have to face but also to take on some of the duties that a man performs in ordinary life. She needs to have patience and understand that her husband will devote most of his time to work.
– What qualities does a person need to serve on the border?
– For both urgent and contract service, we conduct a thorough selection. Our soldiers must be able to make quick decisions and withstand heavy loads, be deeply decent, honest, responsible, and resilient. After all, border guards are special people, truly dedicated to their cause and ready to perform any assigned tasks. They are entrusted with an important state mission: they are responsible for the peace and security of the entire country.
Among those who achieved the best results, we can note the head of the "Vidzy" border post, Major Pavel Matskevich, the head of the "Karasino" border post, Captain Vitaly Sobol, and the senior inspector of the "Vidzy" border post of the "Opsa" border commandant's office, Senior Warrant Officer Alexey Saprykin.
– Tell us about the results of your detachment's activities.
– Over the 25 years of its existence, together with law enforcement officers, 928 state border violators and 261 units of weapons have been detained, more than 1530 attempts of illegal movement of items of administrative offenses and smuggling totaling over 4.7 billion denominated Belarusian rubles have been suppressed. In border crossing points, more than 18.2 million people and more than 8 million vehicles have been processed.
If we talk about the current year, from January to August, Polotsk border guards detained 39 violators who attempted to illegally cross the state border. The majority of offenders were brought to justice under several articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses – for attempted border violation, violation of the rules of stay in the Republic of Belarus, and border regime. In addition, 53 attempts to illegally move goods and materials worth over 99 thousand Belarusian rubles were suppressed. More than 608 thousand people and over 331 thousand vehicles crossed the border through the checkpoints.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW:
What is the difference between a border zone and a border strip?
A border strip is a section of terrain with a width of 300 meters to several kilometers, which directly adjoins the State Border along its entire length. Populated areas are not included in the border strip, but they are part of the border zone, the limits of which are much larger: from several kilometers to several tens of kilometers from the border. A special procedure applies to visiting them.
– What is the procedure for staying in the border zone and border strip?
– The procedure is defined by the Law "On the State Border of the Republic of Belarus". Citizens of our country, as well as foreigners with a residence permit in the Republic of Belarus, need to have only a passport (or residence permit) with them to visit the border zone.
Foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing outside our state must have a passport and a permit for the border zone. To enter the border strip, both citizens of the Republic of Belarus and foreign citizens must have a passport and a special permit. Permits are issued by the Polotsk Border Detachment and the Opsa Border Commandant's Office.
It is necessary to inform the nearest unit of the border service bodies about the time and place of entry into the border strip, and then about departure.
– How does the local border traffic mechanism work?
– An Agreement has been concluded between the governments of the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Latvia "On the simplified procedure for mutual travel of residents of border territories". Upon presentation of travel documents with permits for local border traffic, residents of border areas cross the border without visas at checkpoints open for international and bilateral traffic.
In the area of the Polotsk Border Detachment, these are the international road checkpoints "Grigorovshchina" and "Urbany", as well as simplified checkpoints "Gavrilino", "Druya" and "Plyusy".
– How is cooperation between the Polotsk Border Detachment and executive authorities organized?
– We closely cooperate with the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, as well as the Braslav, Verkhnedvinsk, Miory, and Polotsk District Executive Committees, and the Novopolotsk City Executive Committee. Our border detachment is stationed in these regions. The future belongs to the younger generation, so we pay great attention to the patriotic education of youth.
We are involved in selecting applicants for training at the Border Service Institute, and even at the conscription stage, we select soldiers who are capable of serving in the border service. There are clubs of young border guard friends operating in schools, and there are military-patriotic classes in Secondary School No. 15 in Polotsk and Secondary School No. 4 in Novopolotsk. We cooperate closely with rural executive committees, print, television, and electronic media in informing the local population and explaining legislation.
– A training center operates on the basis of the border detachment. What specialties do cadets acquire here?
– In the autumn, over 100 young men will undergo training and take the oath of allegiance to the Motherland for the first time. After training, they will acquire the specialties of "Border Service Inspector" and "Rifleman" and will continue their service in units directly guarding the state border in the Baltic direction.
– What do you think attracts young people to the profession of a border guard?
– Most likely, the understanding that not everyone is destined to walk the last meter of their native land, but you have been entrusted with this by the Motherland. Snow, rain, thunderstorm, or wind – in any conditions, you must perform a responsible task, being on the front line, not knowing what might happen in a minute. There is a constant awareness that your profession is very much needed by people. And even after retiring, you will always remember that you served as a border guard, be proud of it, and definitely meet with your fellow servicemen on Border Guard Day, May 28.
– What do border guards dream of?
– About vacation, days off, simply about getting enough sleep, spending time with family and friends, giving them more attention, or going mushroom or fishing. We are very happy about the moments we spend with our family, there are not many of them, but they warm us and are long remembered.
– And you dream that there will be no border violators?
– I think our main dream is to serve the Fatherland with dignity, to honestly fulfill our calling. There is no border guard without love for the Motherland. We are making every effort to ensure that the residents of the Vitebsk region live peacefully and are confident that the border is under reliable supervision.
"VV" Reference: On September 24, 1992, the Commander of the Border Troops of the Republic of Belarus signed an order "On the approval of the staff of the Polotsk Border Detachment". Today, it guards a section of the border with the Latvian and Lithuanian republics, about 271 kilometers long. There are 6 border outposts, 3 border posts, and 5 border control departments here.
By the way
In memory of the heroes who gave their lives for the Motherland, a memorial complex "Alley of Border Glory" has been created on the territory of the Polotsk Border Detachment administration, symbolizing the continuity of generations and the reliable protection of the state borders. The composition includes bricks specially delivered from the Brest Fortress.
The alley is surrounded by two gardens, founded on the initiative of the command and personnel. 70 apple trees appeared here in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory, and the planting of 25 cherry trees marked one of the stages of preparation for the celebration of the current anniversary.
Larisa MALASCHENYA, photos by the author. "Vitebskiye vesti".