Amendments and additions to the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the State Border of the Republic of Belarus" come into force

Specifically, regarding the procedure for entry (access), temporary stay, and movement within the border zone. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus, foreign citizens, and stateless persons permanently residing in the Republic of Belarus, who are under 14 years of age, must carry a birth certificate or an identity document when entering, staying, and moving within the border zone. Individuals, including citizens of the Republic of Belarus, foreign citizens, and stateless persons permanently residing in the Republic of Belarus, must carry identity documents when in the border zone.

Citizens of the Republic of Belarus, foreign citizens, and stateless persons not residing in the border zone and not exempted from paying the state duty in accordance with the law, must additionally carry a document confirming the payment of the state duty, the amount of which remains unchanged and is 0.2 basic units.

In addition, the procedure for the presence of motor vehicles within the border zone has also changed. Thus, in accordance with legislative changes, it is now prohibited to leave mechanical vehicles outside settlements located in the border zone without notifying the nearest border guard service unit. In case of a mechanical vehicle breakdown, an individual driving it and residing within the border zone must take measures to evacuate it to their place of residence. An individual not residing in the border zone must take measures to evacuate the faulty vehicle beyond its limits as soon as possible.

In all other cases, a mechanical vehicle detected by the border guard service within the border zone (strip) is subject to compulsory towing (evacuation) and placement in a guarded parking lot or towing without placement in a guarded parking lot in the manner prescribed by the legislation of the Republic of Belarus.

Changes have also been made to the procedure for storing and moving goods in the border zone and border strip.

From July 23 of the current year, a ban on the movement and storage of goods within the specified territory will be introduced in cases established by the legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus. In this regard, the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses has been supplemented with a norm according to which the movement and storage by individuals and individual entrepreneurs who do not have the right to wholesale or retail trade within the border zone or strip of tobacco products in quantities exceeding one thousand cigarettes and more than one thousand grams of tobacco, in the absence of signs of illegal entrepreneurial activity, will entail administrative penalties in the form of a fine ranging from ten to fifty basic units, with confiscation of the items of the administrative offense.

Individuals present in the border strip based on permits for the right to enter (access), temporary stay, and movement in the border strip will be obliged to inform the border guard authorities about facts of intended, ongoing, or committed violations of the legislation of the Republic of Belarus on the State Border, as well as the reasons and conditions contributing to their commission, that become known to them.

In addition, the powers of military personnel, officials of customs authorities, and employees of internal affairs bodies performing tasks to protect the State Border of the Republic of Belarus regarding the use of weapons against offenders and the prevention of illegal activities on the State Border have been expanded.

Responsibility for violating the State Border of the Republic of Belarus is being tightened.

According to Art. 23.29 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses "Intentional illegal crossing of the State Border of the Republic of Belarus," from July 23 of the current year, the fine amount will be increased to 100 basic units (currently up to 50 basic units).

The list of administrative offenses for which an accomplice will be held administratively liable on par with the perpetrator is being supplemented. If previously an accomplice was brought to administrative responsibility only for violating the State Border (Art. 23.29 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus) and violating the regime of the State Border (Art. 23.31 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus), then now such a person will be brought to administrative responsibility for violating the border regime (Art. 23.30 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus).

It will be prohibited in the checkpoints across the State Border of the Republic of Belarus to:

conduct photo and video recording;

hold conversations on mobile communication devices that hinder the implementation of border and other types of control;

leave monetary funds in documents presented for inspection;

commit actions aimed at inciting employees (officials) of state control bodies to violate the established procedure for carrying out border and other types of control, including offering and (or) transferring any material valuables to them, offering and (or) providing benefits of property nature;

penetrate the territory of a checkpoint in violation of the established procedure;

stay in the territory of a checkpoint without documents necessary for entry into the Republic of Belarus and (or) exit from the Republic of Belarus;

bring (import) weapons, explosives, explosive devices or other items that pose a danger to the life or health of employees (officials) of state control bodies, other individuals, into the territory of a checkpoint without the permission of border service officers.

The upcoming changes in the legislation of the Republic of Belarus on the State Border and the increase in liability measures for citizens for non-compliance with its requirements are aimed at enhancing the level of border security and protecting the economic interests of the Republic of Belarus.

Polotsk Border Guard Detachment