Return fire in response to a threat was heard at the border in the Braslav district

As a result of clear and coordinated actions, Polotsk border guards prevented 2 attempts by illegal immigrants in 2 groups to illegally cross the State Border of the Republic of Belarus on the night of April 12-13.

500 meters from the state border in the Braslav district, border guards discovered 3 unknown individuals (who appeared to be from the Caucasus).

During the demand to present identity documents and documents for the right to be in the border zone to the border patrol, the unknown individuals threatened to use cold weapons against the servicemen if they approached them. After that, one of the Caucasians took out a knife and began to threaten them. In response to their actions, the border guards demanded that they drop the knife and obey lawful requirements; despite this, the unknown individuals continued to threaten. The patrol warned them about the possibility of using weapons against them. After reconfirming that the unknown individuals were not obeying, one of the border guards fired warning shots into the air from an AK-74 assault rifle. After that, law enforcement officers again ordered them to drop the knife and lie on the ground. The unknown individuals, realizing that weapons could be used against them, complied with the requirements. As a result, these individuals were detained. The detainees turned out to be citizens of the Russian Federation, two born in 1991 and one born in 1981, residents of the Chechen Republic.

After inspecting the detainees and the detention site, a knife and passports of citizens of the Russian Federation were found.

Protocols were drawn up against these citizens for violating the State Border, they were fined, with forced deportation from Belarus and a ban on entering Belarus for 2 years.

On the same night, in the Verkhnedvinsk district, another 3 Caucasians were detained. They intended to get to Europe for employment and to obtain refugee status there. The Caucasians arrived in the border zone by taxi, after which they intended to cross the Belarusian-Latvian border on foot.

Protocols for violation of the State Border have been drawn up against the detainees. After paying the fine, the violators were expelled from the border zone. As of April 15, 38 violators of the State Border have been detained by Polotsk border guards, compared to 94 for the 12 months of 2012.

The predominant number of those detained for violating the State Border are natives of the Caucasus. This category of citizens uses Belarus as a platform for further movement to EU countries.
Before attempting to illegally cross the State Border, this category of citizens stays in the territory of the Republic of Belarus for some time. Some migrants are carriers of various infectious diseases, thereby creating a risk of diseases for citizens of the Republic of Belarus.

Also, along with migrants, various prohibited substances (psychotropic, narcotic substances and their precursors) enter the country, which end up on the streets of our cities.
The prolonged stay of this category of citizens in the country also affects the crime rate, as in search of a livelihood, some individuals from this category commit crimes.

In the border regions of Belarus, there are citizens who, for a reward, assist in violating the legislation in the field of State Border protection. For this activity, the legislation of the Republic of Belarus provides for responsibility up to criminal prosecution.
Currently, illegal migration is spontaneous and, due to a number of factors negatively affecting various spheres of activity of the Republic of Belarus, the border service bodies are developing proposals to toughen responsibility for violating the legislation in the field of State Border protection.

Assistant to the Head of the Polotsk Border Detachment for Media Relations D.G. Glebko