“We Took Control On Ourselves”: Establishing Control in Byerastavitsa Took Drivers 24 Hours

New details about an unusual action.

Yesterday, AvtoGrodno spoke about the difficult situation at the Byerastavitsa checkpoint, where truckers went into traffic to stop 'crafty' drivers who were bypassing the general line. Did they succeed?

The correspondent of the publication contacted those who stand at the border one more time.

- I'm already standing at the checkpoint, - the driver, who had been standing motionless for more than a 24 hours, told to AvtoGrodno. - We took control on ourselves and we succeeded. Drivers began to be on duty at the entrance to the agricultural settlement, to stop all the trucks and to check the reasons to pass the line. In a couple of hours, we were able to turn back about 30 trucks and the main line began to move!

- How exactly did you stop the trucks? After all, truckers are not traffic police officers, other drivers are not obliged to stop in front of you.

- Everyone stopped. Certainly, they had right to drive past. One of the local truckers relatives pulled a passenger car, so that there was an opportunity to catch up with such drivers for him. And after the stop, we would all begin to deal with the offender. I want to thank this guy in a passenger car on behalf of all of us. He did a great job. He accompanied all the trucks that followed to the Berestovitsa TLC and controlled that they did not wedged into the line along the way.

- They indicate that the crafty drivers went along the alternative roads, then on the by-streets of boundary and they nevertheless managed to pass the line.

- They had such an opportunity until this fellow on the passenger car appeared. By the way, trucks are prohibited on those streets. Therefore, they could also face a large fine.

- Has the problem been resolved for a long time, what do you think?

- I think that soon it happens again. And that's why. We organized round-the-clock duty at Pogranichny, five people each. Those drivers who drove closest to the settlement were on duty. Then, when they passed, the next ones went on duty. Now situation was normalized, but the desire to pass the line will remain with 'crafty' drivers. They are constantly waiting. As soon as the control subsides, and it gets colder outside, the 'crafty' persons will go again.

Drivers are on duty even at night and stop those who are trying to bypass the line. All drivers are wearing reflective jackets

But so far the situation has gotten much better. According to our source, now the queue can be completed in about 3-4 days, although previously this period was close to 10 days.

Official comment of the State Border Committee

“As of 4 p.m. (February 14), more than 530 trucks were stopped in front of the Byerastavitsa checkpoint due to Poland’s failure to comply with bilateral agreements on the passage of vehicles.

Over the past 24 hours, 321 out of 500 trucks entered Poland through Babrouniki, which is 62% of the norm. By 4 p.m. of the current day, employees of the Polish Checkpoint Babrouniki registered about 230 trucks.

At the same time, the Belarusian side can release exactly as many vehicles as the Polish counterparts handle on their side. Despite the tension caused by the long wait to cross the border and the lassitude of the drivers, the situation in front of the Byerastavitsa checkpoint is stable and controlled.

The Belarusian side is taking all possible measures to speed up the process of transport registration,” the State Border Committee reports.