Over 70 people crossed the border between Belarus and Latvia under the simplified procedure over the weekend.
05/03/20120 views
On March 5, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The first citizen of Belarus, a resident of the Vitebsk region, crossed the Belarusian-Latvian border under the new procedure established in accordance with the agreement between the government of the Republic of Belarus and the government of the Republic of Latvia on the simplified procedure for mutual travel of residents of border areas of Belarus and Latvia. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by Denis Glebko, assistant head of the Polotsk Border Guard Detachment.
The pioneer was a resident of the border village of Bigosovo (Verkhnedvinsk district), who on March 3 travelled to Latvia to visit relatives in Kraslava, his place of origin. In total, over 70 people crossed the state border between Belarus and Latvia in both directions under the new rules over the weekend.
In accordance with the agreement between the governments of Belarus and Latvia on the simplified procedure for mutual travel of residents of border areas dated August 23, 2010, consular institutions began accepting documents for the issuance of permits from February 1, 2012. The grounds for issuing a permit may include visiting relatives, organising or participating in cultural, educational, scientific and sports events held by the authorities and institutions of Belarus and Latvia, owning real estate, visiting relatives' burial sites, receiving medical care, participating in events related to local traditions and religious rites, and regular business contacts.
The agreement on the simplified procedure for mutual travel of residents of border areas of Belarus and Latvia provides for a simplified procedure for crossing the state border by residents of border areas who permanently reside in these areas for at least one year, regardless of their citizenship, provided they have a permit for local border traffic issued by the competent authority of the other party, and a travel document (passport or other document provided for by law). The permit will be issued for a period of 1 to 5 years. The fee for accepting and considering an application for a permit is set at 20 euros. At the same time, pensioners, disabled persons and children under 18 years of age may be exempted from the fee on a reciprocal basis.
A list of administrative-territorial units within the territory of each of the Parties has also been established, defining the border area adjacent to the Belarusian-Latvian border and located within a zone of no more than 30 km from it. If a part of such an entity is located in the zone from 30 to 50 km from the border, then this entity is also considered part of the border area. In accordance with the list, the border areas include Bigosovsky, Chapaevsky, Saryansky, Osvyaysky, Kokhanovichsky, Belkovshchinsky village councils of Verkhnedvinsk district, the town of Verkhnedvinsk; Povyatsky, Perebrodsky, Dolginovsky, Miorsky, Novopogostsky, Turkovsky village councils of Miory district, the town of Miory; Druyevsky, Plyussky, Slobodkovsky, Opsovsky, Dalekovsky, Akhremovsky, Mezhansky, Teterkovsky, Vidszevsky village councils of Braslav district, the town of Braslav, the settlement of Vidszy.
Residents of the border areas of the state of one Party, using a local border traffic permit, are obliged to comply with the legislation of the other state during their stay in its territory. Thus, they cannot travel beyond the border area, and residents of the border areas of Latvia, during their stay in the territory of Belarus, are obliged to register in the prescribed manner.
From the date of entry into force of the Agreement, the Agreement between Belarus and Latvia on the simplified procedure for issuing visas to border populations dated November 27, 2002, shall cease to be effective. At the same time, visas issued in accordance with the Agreement of November 27, 2002, may be used until the expiry of their validity period indicated therein.-0-
BELTA