The Belarusian authorities have tightened norms for free import of goods for personal use. According to the newspaper Kommersant, the new rules come into force from April 14.
Now when crossing the border more often than once in three months, will have to declare Luggage weighing more than 20 pounds and cost more than 300 euros, since such a load is now considered commercial. Previously the limit was 50 pounds and 1.5 thousand euros, respectively.
For violation of requirements stipulated penalty in the amount of about 21 thousand Russian rubles with confiscation of goods, or about 700 thousand rubles, but without confiscation. It is noted that it remains in force the existing rules of entry for air passengers — they are allowed to carry in the Luggage undeclared things worth up to 10 thousand euros.
Russian authorities expressed concern about the impact of this rule on the citizens of the country. “There are a number of citizens who, due to geographical location of the place of residence or type of activity carried out by multiple transit through the territory of Belarus,” said the Federal official. He said that the residents of the Kaliningrad region, drivers-international, train crews, employees of travel agencies.
“We assume that will increase the number of conflict situations at the Belarusian border checkpoints, increase the number of cases on administrative violations initiated against the Russians for their failure to declare goods,” the official added.
According to the Ministry of sport and tourism of Belarus, in the year 2015, the Republic was visited by about four million people. According to the press Secretary of the Russian Union of travel industry Irina Tyurin, 70% of this thread are Russians.
