Border services, internal affairs bodies, state security, and customs of the region must reach a new level of interaction
Igor Pechen, Deputy Chairman of the State Border Committee of Belarus, took part in the commission meeting
First Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Oleg Matskevich emphasized that during the reporting period, proper interaction between border services and internal affairs bodies was ensured in the Vitebsk region. Measures were developed to identify persons who illegally crossed the state border and violated the terms of stay in the border area and the region.
For example, raids were conducted in settlements. Thanks to joint work with law enforcement services and citizenship and migration departments, foreign citizens were brought to various types of responsibility, and some of them were subsequently deported. Thus, a stable operational situation was maintained in the border area and the region.
In addition, work was carried out to create waiting areas at the road border crossing points "Grigorovshchina" and "Urbany": the electronic queue service has been operating in test mode at the first one since December 10.
Throughout the past year, field meetings were held between the heads of the State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus and the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee with representatives of local authorities and border units in the Postavy, Braslav, Verkhnedvinsk, and Polotsk districts. Measures aimed at strengthening the security of the state border were jointly developed.
Oleg Sergeevich noted the contribution of print media, including "Vitebskiye Vesti," to promoting the state border security policy among the population: in 2017, over 900 materials about the activities of border service bodies, and young men who served their term service on the border were published in regional and oblast newspapers, thereby enhancing the prestige of border service bodies and assisting in career guidance.
Attention was also paid to educational work in educational institutions. There are 12 "Young Border Guards" clubs operating in the Vitebsk region, with 167 students participating. These clubs host military-patriotic events, where young people learn about the daily lives of border guards and participate in various competitions.
Annually, graduates of such formations become cadets of the Institute of the Border Service of the Republic of Belarus. During the summer period, children rest and gain resilience in military-patriotic camps.
To improve infrastructure in border areas, roadside service facilities were put in order. Furthermore, road surface repairs near international and simplified crossing points were carried out promptly and efficiently. Not only road services but also forestry enterprises and construction organizations were involved in the improvement of the border territory.
– However, the situation in the border area and the emergence of new challenges and threats require us to improve the forms and methods of work to ensure border security, – added Oleg Matskevich.
He outlined the main tasks for 2018: improving information and propaganda work to explain legislation on the state border and measures of responsibility for its violation, reaching a new level of interaction between internal affairs bodies, state security, border services, and customs. Belarus's border must become a reliable barrier against illegal migration and the movement of goods and materials.
The Deputy Chairman of the State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus, Igor Pechen, who attended the commission meeting, emphasized that overall, the work on ensuring border security in the Vitebsk region over the past year was satisfactory.
Moreover, it lacked formalism, concrete actions were taken, and measures were carried out to enhance border security. Igor Nikolaevich stated that over 350 violators of state border legislation were detained in the Vitebsk region. This relatively small figure indicates a high level of performance by the border service bodies, where preventive measures play a significant role.
A pleasant moment of the commission meeting was the awarding of employees of territorial border committees, regional and district executive committees, as well as citizens who contributed to strengthening the security of the state border.