The crime rate among foreigners in the Vitebsk region decreased by 19% in January-June

The crime rate among foreigners in the Vitebsk region decreased by 19% to 98 cases in January-June, as reported to BelTA by Igor Bogachev, Head of the Organizational and Control Department of the Vitebsk Region Prosecutor's Office. According to him, strict control over their stay in the region and the active application of administrative legislation norms have significantly contributed to the reduction in the number of crimes committed by foreign citizens. Regarding the latter, Igor Bogachev emphasized that over 12,000 administrative protocols were drawn up against residents of other countries in the first half of the year alone. Of these, 574 individuals were brought to administrative responsibility for violating the rules of stay in Belarus and transit rules through the territory of our country. For 138 individuals who grossly violated the legislation or were illegally staying in the country, decisions on deportation or expulsion were made and implemented, with 63 of them being escorted. Criminal cases under Article 371, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus have been initiated against 14 foreigners for violating the ban on entering Belarus. In total, over 20,000 foreign citizens and 1.8 thousand stateless persons permanently reside in the Vitebsk region, with 14.8 thousand being citizens of the Russian Federation and 539 being stateless persons from Russia. Over 6 months, temporary registration was processed for 4.1 thousand foreigners, 1.5 thousand were issued temporary residence permits, and 824 people applied for permanent residence permits in Belarus. The extensive legal framework allows law enforcement officers to effectively counteract illegal migration: about 30 normative legal acts regulate the legal status of foreigners in Belarus. Igor Bogachev also highlighted the special role of cooperation established with law enforcement agencies of the border regions of Russia in this regard. For example, since the beginning of this year alone, 13 regime and preventive measures have been carried out in the border areas of the Vitebsk region in cooperation with the border areas of the Russian Federation. -0-