The Polotsk Border Guard Detachment is the only one in the country guarding the Belarusian border with three states: Latvia, Lithuania, and Russia.
Its structural divisions are located in the Verkhnedvinsk, Braslav, and Miory districts, where personnel serve at outposts and border control units. But that's not all. Since October last year, the Vitebsk border control unit, which oversees the Vitebsk airport, has been incorporated into the Polotsk border detachment.
To be more precise, this structural unit has existed for 19 years, but previously it reported to Minsk. Now, by decision of the State Border Committee, it has been attached to the local department. Employees of the Vitebsk border control unit carry out document checks for individuals crossing the state border at the airport. As the northern capital of Belarus is located on the route of important air corridors, border guards mainly process aircraft landing for refueling and private flights.
– Every year, we welcome and see off guests of the "Slavianski Bazaar," various official delegations. Once, vintage aircraft from the Second World War, en route to an air show in Moscow, landed at Vitebsk airport. So-called private taxis also arrive. There is no fixed schedule for presence on the runway; work can arise at any time of the day. We learn about flights from airport staff, with whom we work in close contact, – says the head of the unit, Andrey Kozlov.
It is worth noting that border guards have had more work since last year: for the first time in many years, a Vitebsk – Antalya flight has appeared, thanks to which our tourists can quickly and comfortably get to their vacation in Turkey. This summer, planes will also fly to Bulgaria.
– Document checks seem like routine work, – says Andrey Nikolaevich, – but only to those who are not familiar with its specifics. It requires a lot of knowledge, as each state has its own passports and its own methods of protection, which can be dozens. Our task is to know all the distinctive features of the main document of any country and the conditions under which citizens of a particular state can cross the Belarusian border.
Of course, advanced technologies help border guards in their service: hardware and software complexes with a unified database, document authenticity control devices. But, again, knowledge is essential.
– Our activity is interesting because we constantly need to learn and improve our skills, – says shift supervisor Sergey Yatsuk. – Moreover, it is the border guards who are the first to meet the guests of our country, and this communication shapes the opinion of Belarusians. Understanding the burden of responsibility, we always try to be at our best.
Today, in honor of Border Guard Day and the 97th anniversary of the Border Guard Troops Day, according to tradition, a ceremony will be held on Victory Square in Vitebsk. Servicemen and veterans of the border guard troops will congratulate each other and march in a ceremonial parade.
Olga Maslovskaya, "Vitebskiye vesti"