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Over 5,000 fans transit Belarus en-route to Russia for FIFA World Cup
MINSK, 18 June (BelTA) - More than 5,000 fans have passed through Belarus to Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, BelTA learned from the State Border Service Committee of Belarus.
“Some 22 organized groups of fans entered Belarus over the weekend. Since the launch of the visa-waiver travel program for fans, we have let through more than 5,400 fans across the border. More than 5,200 of them entered Belarus and 200 left the country,” Anton Bychkovsky, the official representative of the Belarusian State Border Committee, informed.
Most fans cross the border via Minsk National Airport. More than 3,400 have already traveled to Belarus this way. Rail transport goes next and is followed by traveling by road.
Gennady Vorso, the deputy head of public security on transport at the Interior Ministry, talked about the state of things on railway transport. “We interact with the Russian police. We monitor international trains, track the movement of foreign nationals from the EU towards Russia. We are in charge of safety and security on trains. We work to prevent crimes and offences both by foreign citizens and also against them. Since the visa-free entry program for fans was launched, no crimes or offences against foreign nationals have been committed. No foreign citizens have applied for help,” Gennady Vorso said.
Over 1,000 foreign nationals have used rail transport to go to Russia. Among them were organized groups of up to 100 people. “On 15-16 June we ensured public order on four extra trains on the route Moscow-Kaliningrad. These trains transported a total of about 1,500 fans. The bulk of them were citizens of the Russian Federation. Another time when extra trains will go to Kaliningrad and back will be 21-29 June. Up to 2,000 citizens are expected to use this rail service. This weekend showed that the occupancy rate of these trains was approximately 70%,” Gennady Vorso said.
The citizenship and migration department at the Interior Ministry reminded that foreign nationals can enter Russia without visas upon presentation of FAN IDs. They are valid from 4 June, ten days before the start of the championships, through to 25 July. To cross the Belarusian border a foreign traveler must present a FAN ID and a valid passport.
Upon arrival in Russia every foreigner is issued a migration card which he must keep for the whole duration of his/her stay in the country. Upon crossing the state border of Belarus en-route to Russia fans should apply to representatives of the Belarusian border service for a migration card.
On 29 May Belarus and Russia signed an intergovernmental agreement on certain issues related to the rules of entry of foreign nationals and stateless persons attending international sport events. In line with the document foreign fans will be able to travel through Belarus visa-free during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia from 4 June to 25 July. Russia, in turn, will introduce visa-free entry and stay on its territory for foreign fans attending the 2nd European Games MINSK 2019.
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