Lukashenka expands visa-free zones in western Belarus

Alyaksandr Lukashenka signed a decree on expanding visa-free areas in Brest and Hrodna region, Belarusian Prime Minister Syarhei Rumas said on August, 2 when being live on TV channel Belarus-1.

He failed to say when the decision would come into effect; the decree has not yet been published and there is no more detailed information at the moment.

In February 2019, it was reported that 200,000 foreigners had come to Belarus over 2 years of visa-free travel regime.

A foreigner may get into a Belarusian visa-free zone through one of twelve international checkpoints. To mark out the current borders of visa-free zones ‘Brest’ and ‘Augustow Canal’, the Belarusian authorities got special signs set on the roads. One should remember that illegal crossing this border is punishable by a fine or deportation.

Moreover, Lukashenka instructed the Foreign Ministry to strengthen efforts to solve visa issues with the European Union and Russia; in turn, the government was tasked to stir up the coordination of the program on deepening integration with Russia.

belsat.eu