Lukashenko approves decisions on state border protection in 2023

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has approved the decisions on state border protection by border guard agencies in 2023, a BELTA correspondent reports.

Traditionally, at the beginning of the year, the head of state approves the decision on state border protection. However, this year two decisions have been signed – one for border guards on the ground and another for air defence in the sky.

The main efforts in border protection this year will be focused on the Ukrainian direction, as well as on sections where new external challenges and threats to border security may arise, the State Border Committee emphasized. Among the main tasks here, they also mentioned increasing the combat readiness of border guard agencies by improving combat training and equipping units, as well as enhancing the combat capabilities of mobile groups, developing the department's potential for identifying external threats to border security, and improving border infrastructure, including the construction of new defence lines and equipping them with the most modern technical means in the most dangerous sections.

As Anatoly Lappo, Chairman of the State Border Committee, told journalists, the head of state was informed about the results of state border protection in 2022 and the specifics of the situation, taking into account the hostilities occurring in the territory of the neighbouring state, Ukraine. "We had to reorganise border protection in the southern direction in all aspects," noted the head of the State Border Committee. According to him, all tasks for state border protection set for 2022 were fulfilled.

"Tasks for this year are no less important. I believe that with the forces and means we have, we will fulfil these tasks and ensure reliable border protection," he said. "The task is unified – to ensure reliable protection of the state border and the entry of law-abiding citizens into our republic, to be a reliable shield against those who come to us with bad intentions." The State Border Committee has all the necessary forces and means to accomplish this task, and new equipment is also being supplied. "There will be new tasks – we will look at new equipment," stated the head of the State Border Committee.

According to him, the tension on the border persists partly due to the refugee situation. "Some countries are destroyed, people have nowhere to live, they were invited (to Western European countries. - BELTA's note), and they will come. This trend was present last year and will continue next year. As long as people left without a roof over their heads cannot find one, this will continue. It's just necessary not to promise them mountains of gold, then there will be fewer such problems," Anatoliy Lappo is convinced.

Source: belta.by