MIA Comments On Leave Ban For Many Belarusians

The regime is seriously thinking about closing the borders.

The government has prepared a draft bill providing for travel restrictions for certain groups of citizens. The head of the Department for Citizenship and Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus Aliaksei Biahun confirmed on the air of the Belarus 1 TV channel that work is underway in this direction, writes zerkalo.io.

“Additional grounds and restrictions on the right of a citizen of the Republic of Belarus to travel abroad are being introduced — this is in the interests of national security. However, these are temporary restrictions. And they will be valid for 6 months. The right of a citizen may be limited if they are involved in an administrative violation in the field of order of administration. This is done in order to ensure the collection of a fine,” Biahun said.

Important to note, a review of the bill prepared by the government was published yesterday. Its main innovations are as follows:

The KGB will be able to restrict travel not only for those who are registered with state security agencies, but also for those whose “departure is contrary to the interests of the national security of the Republic of Belarus.” It can be administered for up to six months. Which citizens and on what grounds will fall into this category is not reported.

Persons “against whom an administrative process is being conducted for committing administrative offenses against the order of administration, to ensure the execution of a judge’s decision to impose an administrative penalty in the form of a fine” will also be banned from leaving the country. “Offences against the order of administration” include “political” articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses: disobedience to a lawful order or demand of an official in the exercise of their official powers, violation of the procedure for organizing or holding mass events, and so on.

Military personnel, employees, workers and civilian personnel of military formations and paramilitary organizations of Belarus will be able to leave Belarus only upon agreement with the leadership. In addition, if the persons belonging to this category have biometric passports, they are obliged to transfer them to the personnel department of their organization for the duration of their service.